Damage in Ain al-Hilweh camp after a night of armed clashes. (Courtest of: Muntasser Abdallah)
BEIRUT — One person died and seven were injured after an armed clash broke out Wednesday night in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Saida, in southern Lebanon, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area reported.
According to a Palestinian source in the camp, the clash reportedly began as a personal dispute that escalated into an armed fight, with one member of the Fatah Movement killed by accident.
The sounds of RPGs were heard across Saida by L'Orient Today's correspondent. Heavy weaponry such as machine guns and hand grenades were also reportedly used.
The shooting renewed Thursday morning after a period of calm through the night. Schools in Ain al-Hilweh run by UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugees agency, issued a decision to close their doors Thursday, “due to the security conditions and the ongoing clashes.”
Schools and universities close to the camp also shut their doors Thursday to “preserve the safety of students.”
According to our correspondent, the clashes resulted in significant damage to a number of cars and shops.
The Palestinian ambassador in Lebanon Ashraf Dabbour has been working on mediating a ceasefire, according to L’Orient Today’s correspondent.
The heavily-populated Ain al-Hilweh camp is regularly the scene of shootings and clashes, either due to personal disputes or because of tensions between the various Palestinian factions.
Reporting contributed by Muntasser Abdallah