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Ain al-Hilweh camp clashes resume, wounding two people

Ain al-Hilweh camp clashes resume, wounding two people

Damage in Ain al-Hilweh camp after a night of armed clashes. (Courtesy of: Muntasser Abdallah)

BEIRUT — Clashes and gunfire resumed on Thursday evening in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Saida, in southern Lebanon, injuring two people, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area reported.

The camp saw hostile armed clashed the night before and on Thursday morning but then calmed down.

The clashes renewed in a street in Ain al-Hilweh camp between one of the officials in the Fatah movement and Islamic forces belonging to the Ward family, according to our correspondent.

Wednesday's clashes claimed the life of one person, a Fatah movement member, while injuring seven others, including civilians. 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.

Meanwhile, a meeting between the Palestinian Joint Action Committee in Ain al-Hilweh camp, which included representatives of the camp's various Palestinian national and Islamic forces, ended on Thursday evening without the release of any further information. The meeting was aimed at dealing with the aftermath of Wednesday's security incidents.

As a result of the security situation in the camp, the UN's Palestinian refugees agency, UNRWA, said Thursday that it will continue to suspend services in Ain al-Hilweh camp through Friday, including clinic visits.

Schools in Ain al-Hilweh, which are also run by UNRWA, issued a decision Wednesday 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.”

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  

BEIRUT — Clashes and gunfire resumed on Thursday evening in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Saida, in southern Lebanon, injuring two people, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area reported.The camp saw hostile armed clashed the night before and on Thursday morning but then calmed down.The clashes renewed in a street in Ain al-Hilweh camp between one of the officials in the Fatah...