From: UPI
Subject: Freezing weather threatens Palestinian deportees
Reply-To: ayman@eecs.umich.edu
Organization: United Press International
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 17:18:31 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 has reached 80 centimeters
during the night, covering the deportees tents and blocking the road
leading to the camp.
	Journalists and cameramen, the only to have access to inside the
camp, struggled to remove piles of snow from the road, witnesses said.
	The deportees spent another sleepless night, shivering of cold with a
below zero temperature. They tried to warm out through jogging and
exercises, 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 suffering from fever, infections and dierhea were squeezed,
witnesses.
	Zamel, covered by several blankets, layed down on a sponge mattress
inside the tent, struggling for his life.
	``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 on 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 fasting this week in order to
maintain their food reserves as long as possible. But the fasting has
greatly affected their strength.
	Two days ago, the deportees ran out of drinking water and used
instead wilthy 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 deportees issue.
Jonah was expected to visit the deportees camp in the coming few days.
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