| Life is just peaches and cream in the Paleo 'refugee' camps, isn't it? |
A second round of violence which took place about three hours later caused some minor damage to local homes, stores and vehicles and caused a power interruption. According to security reports, an argument between two people at the Habli coffee shop in Taamir escalated into a shooting incident in the street. Lebanese and Palestinian forces rushed to the area to contain the incident and arrest the armed individuals.
Residents said they were living in constant fear that more violence would erupt.
The violence over the weekend was not the first of its kind. Similar clashes took place in October 2005, after which numerous calls were made for the deployment of the Lebanese Army to fill the security vacuum and protect Taamir residents after one man was killed and four were wounded. The neighborhood is home to members of various political factions and military groups that regularly have armed clashes in the streets.
Repeated incidents of violence have pushed many residents, including Hassan Abu Oqda, the owner of the coffee shop where Sunday's argument took place, to pack their things and move inside the bordering refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh, "for security."
"The situation is unbearable. We need a permanent solution because the people want to eat and provide a living for their families," said restaurant owner Mahmoud al-Gharbi said. "We are not satisfied with the situation because we live in constant tension and panic," Gharbi added, calling on government officials to find an immediate solution.
On Monday, a member of Jund al-Sham, Mohammad Mohammad, was transported from Ain al-Hilweh to the Hammoud Hospital in Sidon. Mohammad had been shot by his uncle in a family dispute.
Meanwhile, a dawn blast rocked the Rashidieh refugee camp in Tyre when suspects tossed a hand grenade at the home of the Hamas Movement representative Hajj Abu Khaled Murra. According to Ali Barakeh, the movement's political-relations official in Lebanon, the explosion caused material damage but no casualties. While Murra refused to comment on the incident, Hamas' political representative in Tyre, Abu Khaled Jihad, condemned the act as "attempted murder."