STORY: 5 soldiers injured due to clashes in Palestinian refugee camp in S. Lebanon
DATELINE: Sept. 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:05:09
LOCATION: SIDON, Lebanon
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Ain Al-Helweh camp and armed soldiers
2. various of rescuers and refugees
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): BADR EL KAWWAM, Head of Sidon municipal police
4. various of rescuers and refugees
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOUSSA EL AHMAD, Palestinian refugee displaced from Ain Al-Helweh camp
6. various of city

STORYLINE:

Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants.

The Lebanese army responded to the sources of fire, as it had previously warned against any move that could affect army positions.

The latest round of armed clashes between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants in the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp broke out on Thursday evening and intensified in the following days, resulting in dozens of injuries over the past three days.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): BADR EL KAWWAM, Head of Sidon municipal police
"We are providing medicines and first aid, and we are waiting hopefully for the clashes to come to an end because the children who were registered at UNRWA schools have no choice but to attend schools outside the camp."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOUSSA EL AHMAD, Palestinian refugee displaced from Ain Al-Helweh camp
"My house is located in the Taamir area. It is now totally damaged. I am now staying with my family in the streets. We want someone to compensate for us. We want someone to support us. UNRWA doesn't receive us and the mosques are turning us down. Look into our situation. I fled the camp and came back to look at my house. It is completely ruined."

Clashes between rival groups often occur in this largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Between July 29 and Aug. 3, clashes between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants in the camp killed at least 13 people.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sidon, Lebanon.
(XHTV)