Misery doubles in refugee camp as thousands flee violence

BEDDAWI REFUGEE CAMP, Lebanon: The fear of lice spread through this crowded Palestinian refugee camp, where taking a shower has become a luxury, sent 250 boys and men scurrying to get their hair cut.

Conditions at the northern Lebanese camp have deteriorated over the past week as refugees fleeing gunfire between the army and Islamic militants have taken shelter here — doubling Beddawi's population and placing more burdens on the already cramped camp.

But with no end in sight to the standoff between the army and Fatah Islam militants, relief organizations and residents here are trying to adjust to stem the spread of disease.

The Beirut-based Islamic Charitable Reform and Guidance Association rounded up barbers on Sunday to cut hair to keep lice from spreading and placed showers and battery-operated lamps in classrooms that have been converted into apartments. The U.N. agency that oversees Palestinian refugees has distributed about 4,000 mattresses, 3,500 pillows, 3,500 blankets and 1,040 hygiene kits, most of them to people in Beddawi.

"Such gatherings make us fear the spread of disease and lice," said Jihan al-Qaisi, a spokeswoman for Islamic Charitable Reform.

About 400,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon, including those who left after Israel's creation in 1948 and their descendants. About half live in poverty in 12 refugee camps that are like small towns, with two- or three-story buildings on narrow streets alongside mosques, schools and businesses.

Since the fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah Islam broke out on May 20, about 25,000 people have fled Nahr el-Bared, which is located on the outskirts of Tripoli. The violence there has so far killed 20 civilians, 30 Lebanese soldiers and up to 60 militants have been killed.

The majority of fleeing refugees have taken shelter in Beddawi — about five kilometers (3 miles) from Nahr el-Bared — which already was home to 18,000 people.

Thousands moved into Beddawi's schools and mosques while others are staying with relatives in apartments that in some cases are housing more than 30 people.

"No camp can tolerate that, immediately, at least," Karen Koning AbuZayd, UNRWA's commissioner-general, said Sunday after touring Beddawi. "What we are trying to do is to provide services. ... We need to make sure everyone has a place to stay, a shelter, has food, has water."

At one school in Beddawi, six families were sharing one classroom. They converted desks into shelves by piling them on the sides of the room.

"Our life is miserable here although its better than Nahr el-Bared. The shelling was terrifying. We have lived through several wars but this was the worst," said Halimeh Salim al-Najjar, who was one of the 39 people living in the classroom.

Mariam Hamed, who is sharing another classroom with her three sisters and other families, said she hasn't showered or changed her clothes in five days.

"We the poor have no one to help us but God," she said before bursting into tears.

Othman Badr feels like he is one of the lucky ones. His brother lives in Beddawi and he, his wife and their seven children — along with another family — were able to move into his brother's apartment instead of staying in a classroom or mosque.

Badr said he has to stand in line to use the bathroom and can shower only once every three days. But he admits his situation could be a lot worse.

"If you compare us to others displaced, we are living in a five-star hotel. There are more catastrophic cases here," he said.