Palestinians brave desolation at bombed-out Lebanon camp
Source: AFP, 4-12-2007
NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon - Aisha Abdul Rahim's home has no doors or windows but she would still rather suffer the cold at her own home in a bombed-out Palestinian camp in north Lebanon than stay in a shelter.
Nearly three months after fierce fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamists destroyed much of Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, less than 8,000 out of the shantytown's 31,000 residents have returned home.
They have come only to find their homes destroyed, the walls riddled with bullet holes, burnt out, with no windows, doors, furniture or personal belongings, such as clothes, blankets, photos or documents.
The camp offers a dramatic scene of buildings reduced to skeletons. Buildings at the edges of the shantytown are still standing but also heavily damaged.
Massive artillery and tank shelling left the roads full of potholes, damaged electricity poles and burnt out vehicles.
"We are living in a ghost town. There is destruction everywhere," said Abdel Azim Ali, 62. "We have no more faith in the future. We lost our homes, money, and even our smile."
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, Karen Abu Zayd, said she had "witnessed nothing like this" in decades of services, after a November 13 tour of the camp.
"My house has no doors or windows. Everything that was inside has been burned, but I would rather return home than stay without a shelter," insisted Abdul Rahim, 56.
"The United Nations had promised to repair our homes, but so far we haven't received much," said the woman who returned to Nahr al-Bared about a month and a half ago with her husband and seven children.
Fierce fighting raged for three months at the Nahr al-Bared camp between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam militants until the military crushed the uprising of the Al-Qaeda-inspired group on September 2.
More than 450 people -- including 300 militants and 168 soldiers -- were killed during the battle that left the camp in total desolation and forced its residents to seek refuge in other regions of Lebanon.
UNRWA has received pledges from international donors for nearly 29 million dollars following an emergency appeal for nearly 55 million dollars to address the humanitarian needs of Nahr al-Bared refugees over the next 12 months.
Lebanese and Palestinian officials promised during the final stages of the fighting that the camp -- once a relatively well-off trading post -- would be rebuilt better than new, with financial aid from Gulf Arab states.
Most of the refugees who have returned to the camp since October 10 are staying at their own homes, which have undergone only partial reconstruction, funded by donor countries through the Beirut government and the United Nations.
The UNRWA has also built at the southern entrance of the camp 120 temporary housing units which are hosting 136 families.
Amid the desolation, the silence is often broken by the blast of explosions, as the Lebanese army continues to search and destroy unexploded ordnance and mines.
Last month, eight Palestinians, including four children, were wounded when an explosive charge accidentally blew up as youngsters in the impoverished camp were searching for scrap metal to sell.
"I have three children, and I am dead scared every time they go out of the house," said Hanane Sadek.
After the 15-week battle, Nahr al-Bared was left with no electricity, water or sewage system.
UNRWA has since installed power generators to bring in electricity for three hours during daytime and two hours at night. Water tanks have been placed on the streets where returning residents are seen queuing.
"We are forced to use public toilets which have been installed on the streets because our bathrooms don't work," Abdel Rahim said.
Mohammed Nasser, 40, tried to return home, but it was impossible as the house was totally destroyed. He had to seek refuge with his five children at his brother's nearby house.
"We are now 14 people living in a two-room flat. It is difficult," he said.
NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon - Aisha Abdul Rahim's home has no doors or windows but she would still rather suffer the cold at her own home in a bombed-out Palestinian camp in north Lebanon than stay in a shelter.
Nearly three months after fierce fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamists destroyed much of Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, less than 8,000 out of the shantytown's 31,000 residents have returned home.
They have come only to find their homes destroyed, the walls riddled with bullet holes, burnt out, with no windows, doors, furniture or personal belongings, such as clothes, blankets, photos or documents.
The camp offers a dramatic scene of buildings reduced to skeletons. Buildings at the edges of the shantytown are still standing but also heavily damaged.
Massive artillery and tank shelling left the roads full of potholes, damaged electricity poles and burnt out vehicles.
"We are living in a ghost town. There is destruction everywhere," said Abdel Azim Ali, 62. "We have no more faith in the future. We lost our homes, money, and even our smile."
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, Karen Abu Zayd, said she had "witnessed nothing like this" in decades of services, after a November 13 tour of the camp.
"My house has no doors or windows. Everything that was inside has been burned, but I would rather return home than stay without a shelter," insisted Abdul Rahim, 56.
"The United Nations had promised to repair our homes, but so far we haven't received much," said the woman who returned to Nahr al-Bared about a month and a half ago with her husband and seven children.
Fierce fighting raged for three months at the Nahr al-Bared camp between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam militants until the military crushed the uprising of the Al-Qaeda-inspired group on September 2.
More than 450 people -- including 300 militants and 168 soldiers -- were killed during the battle that left the camp in total desolation and forced its residents to seek refuge in other regions of Lebanon.
UNRWA has received pledges from international donors for nearly 29 million dollars following an emergency appeal for nearly 55 million dollars to address the humanitarian needs of Nahr al-Bared refugees over the next 12 months.
Lebanese and Palestinian officials promised during the final stages of the fighting that the camp -- once a relatively well-off trading post -- would be rebuilt better than new, with financial aid from Gulf Arab states.
Most of the refugees who have returned to the camp since October 10 are staying at their own homes, which have undergone only partial reconstruction, funded by donor countries through the Beirut government and the United Nations.
The UNRWA has also built at the southern entrance of the camp 120 temporary housing units which are hosting 136 families.
Amid the desolation, the silence is often broken by the blast of explosions, as the Lebanese army continues to search and destroy unexploded ordnance and mines.
Last month, eight Palestinians, including four children, were wounded when an explosive charge accidentally blew up as youngsters in the impoverished camp were searching for scrap metal to sell.
"I have three children, and I am dead scared every time they go out of the house," said Hanane Sadek.
After the 15-week battle, Nahr al-Bared was left with no electricity, water or sewage system.
UNRWA has since installed power generators to bring in electricity for three hours during daytime and two hours at night. Water tanks have been placed on the streets where returning residents are seen queuing.
"We are forced to use public toilets which have been installed on the streets because our bathrooms don't work," Abdel Rahim said.
Mohammed Nasser, 40, tried to return home, but it was impossible as the house was totally destroyed. He had to seek refuge with his five children at his brother's nearby house.
"We are now 14 people living in a two-room flat. It is difficult," he said.
