From: UPI
Subject: Freezing weather threatens Palestinian deportees
Reply-To: ayman@eecs.umich.edu
Organization: United Press International
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 19:49:24 GMT
X-Note: This article was automatically cross-posted to soc.culture.lebanon

[ Article cross-posted without permission ]

	MARJ AL ZOUHOUR, Lebanon (UPI) -- Freezing weather Sunday threatened
the lives of hundreds of Palestinian deportees stranded between
unyielding Lebanese and Israeli armies in southern Lebanon without food,
water and heating.
	Amjed Zamel, one of 415 Palestinians who were expelled by Israel to
avenge the killing of Israeli policemen by the fundamentalist
organization Hamas, was reported in critical condition Sunday.
	``Zamel will soon die if he does not receive medical care
immediately,'' said Dr. Omar Farawneh, one of 20 doctors among the
deportees.
	Zamel, who was wounded in the jaw and arm by Israeli gunfire last
week, was forced out of a hospital in Lebanese-controlled territories
along with seven other wounded and sick deportees.
	They were returned Friday to their makeshift tent camp between Marj
Al Zouhour, manned by Lebanese soldiers, and the Israeli-controlled
Zimraya gate.
	Lebanon blocked all relief aid to the deportees and restricted access
to the camp, dubbed ``Al Quds'' after the Arabic name of Jerusalem, to
journalists and cameramen.
	The Beirut government remained firm on its stand to deny entry to the
Palestinians and blamed Israel for their ordeal, arguing that any aid
should come from the Israeli side.
	Israel has refused to yield to international pressure and allow the
passage of relief aid to the deportees across its self-proclaimed 
``security zone'' in southern Lebanon.
	Witnesses in Marj Al Zouhour said snow during the night covered the
deportees' tents and blocked the road leading to the camp.
	The deportees spent another sleepless night, shivering as they tried
to keep warm by jogging and exercising, witnesses said.
	A severe shortage in food, fresh water and gasoline added to their
ordeal. The only properly heated tent was the clinic where dozens of ill
deportees were billeted, witnesses said.
	``Zamel should be transported to hospital immediately,'' said Dr.
Farawneh. He said Zamel's injuries could not be treated in the camp
because of lack of medicine, medical equipment and heating.
	The deportees' spokesman, Abdel Aziz Rantissi, appealed to the United
Nations and humanitarian organizations for immediate action to rescue
the stranded Palestinians.
	``We are facing an unbearable situation,'' said Rantissi. He said the
deportees were restricting food to one meal per day made up of boiled
potatoes and bread.
	Rantissi said they went on a two-day fast this week in order to
maintain their food reserves as long as possible.
	Two days ago, the deportees ran out of drinking water and used
instead water collected from a nearby stream and melting snow.
	The International Committee of the Red Cross denounced the Lebanese
and Israeli governments for violating the Geneva Conventions on human
rights by blocking relief aid to the deportees.
	United Nations envoy James Jonah arrived Sunday in Tel Aviv to
discuss with the Israeli officials ways to resolve the issue. Jonah was
expected to visit the deportees camp in the coming few days.
	A Lebanese government source said the U.N. envoy will not be allowed
to visit the deportees across the Lebanese territories. Jonah was
expected in Beirut Monday for talks with Lebanese officials on the
deportees issue.
	The source close to Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Jonah came to
the region to help implement United Nations Resolution 799 which
provides for the repatriation of the Palestinian deportees to their
homes in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip.
	``The Israelis bear the complete responsibility for their
deportation. We have nothing to do with it,'' he said, adding that
Jonah's visit to Beirut will not change the firm Lebanese decision
regarding the deportees.
	The source said Hariri consulted with Arab and international parties
to exert pressure on Israel to return the deportees back into Israel.
	He expressed hope that the United States administration will 
``respond at the end with these international pressures'' and force
Israel reverse its position.
	At daybreak, news about the death of the father of one of the
deportees spread in the camp. Wael Hindiya, who was wounded in his hand
by Israeli fire last week, broke into tears.
	His father died of a heart attack in Nablus when he saw him wounded
on a television broadcast. The deportees gathered around Hindiya to
console him.
	``Now the U.N. envoy can see our misery,'' the deportees spokesman,
Abdel Aziz, Rantissi said.

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