UN says militants occupying school complex in Lebanon's largest Palestinian camp after clashes

Two weeks after clashes between armed factions in Leban's largest Palestinian refugee camp ended, militants are still occupying a United Nations-run school complex, UN officials said Thursday. Doroe Klaus, director of UN ncy for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in Leban, said in a statement that ncy has “received alarming reports that armed actors continue to occupy its installations including a school compound" in Ein el-Hilweh camp.

compound provides education to 3,200 out of a total of 6,000 students in camp, which is home to more than 50,000 people. Earlier this month, Klaus said that start of school year might be delayed for students in camp due to dams to school facilities.

Klaus said continued presence of militants is a “grave violation of inviolability of UN premises under international law, which compromises neutrality of UNRWA installations and undermines safety and security of our staff” and of refugees living in camp.

A local Palestinian official, who spoke on condition of anymity because he was t authorised to speak to media, said militants from both of opposing sides h taken over different schools, using m as a “safe haven", and h looted computers and equipment. school buildings h been heavily fortified to protect children in event of clashes, after previous outbreaks of fighting in camp.

Several days of heavy street battles broke out between Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Islamist groups Jund al Sham and Shabab al Muslim after Fatah accused Islamists of gunning down a Fatah military general, Abu Ashraf al Armoushi, in camp on July 30. fighting killed at least 13 people, injured dozens more and caused millions of dollars of dams in camp, according to UNRWA officials.