Vigil outside Naher El Bared Camp Tuesday 29th May 12:30

As a group of concerned citizens from Lebanon, Palestine and abroad, – we are assembling at the entrance of Naher el Bared to voice our dissent at the effect of the continuing siege on the civilian population of the camp. While we condemn the criminal killing of the 30 Lebanese soldiers, we state that the dignity and honor of the Lebanese army cannot be built upon the blood of innocent civilians.

Although humanitarian organizations have at last been allowed to deliver much needed relief to the camp, and ambulance services continue to slowly evacuate the dead, wounded, and living, we call on the army to allow greater access to the camp, to allow ambulance services and humanitarian workers to do their work unimpeded in an effort to minimize innocent civilian causalities and to ease the humanitarian crises developing in the camp. With an estimated 10,000 civilians still in the camp- amongst them 650 disabled persons, living in worsening conditions, the need for evacuation continues.

With the comprehensive ban on media entering the camp over the past four days journalists have also been prevented from doing their work. The ban on the media not only violates freedom of the press, but also raises questions about the extent of damage to the civilian infrastructure of the camp. For example, testimonial evidence from the displaced of Naher el Bared confirms that the heart of the camp is being targeted and shelled while media can only confirm the shelling of the outer edges of the camp. Also, although there are a minimum of twenty confirmed civilian deaths, some Lebanese media outlets are still stating that the death toll is comprised exclusively of Fateh al Islam members and of soldiers.

Naher el Bared Refugee camp is ultimately a civilian urban area, home to 45,000 civilians and is composed of homes, shops, schools and clinics etc… We have been condemning the United States and Israel for decades for their “anti terrorist” actions, indiscriminate mass bombing, and disregard to civilian areas and life. Bombing Naher el Bared indiscriminately, would justify the inhumane and discriminatory action that our region has suffered from and experienced for decades. The dignity and sovereignty of the Lebanese army cannot be compromised by employing similar tactics to resolve terrorism.

The innocent civilians of Naher El Bared cannot pay the price for the criminal actions of Fateh El Islam. We express our solidarity to the displaced refugees from Naher el bared, who are now seeking refuge in Baddawi Refugee Camp and elsewhere, re-living the Palestinian experience of dispossession and exile and appeal to all parties concerned to respect the basic rights of the remaining civilians remaining in Naher al Bared.