Feature: Palestinian refugees stuck in Syrian conflict, face constant migration
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E-mail Xinhua, September 4, 2012
Feature: Palestinian refugees stuck in Syrian conflict, face constant migration
DAMASCUS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian refugees in Syria find themselves caught between the parties of the military showdown in the country, having to pay a price no matter who they support and facing constant migration the violence inflicts upon them.
Since they were first offered shelter in Syria, the Palestinian refugees have become part of the social, economic and cultural fabric of Syria in the past 60 years. They are now treated as equals to the Syrian citizens.
After the outbreak of the Syrian crisis 18 months ago, most Palestinians opted to take a neutral position in the conflict between the government and the opposition groups.
Ali Badwan, a Palestinian writer, said in an article posted online that the Palestinians inside Syria should "remain outside the equation of the Syrian crisis because their engagement would further complicate the Syrian issue and would never render any assistance neither to the Syrian people nor to the country."
The Palestinian factions in Syria are also divided into pro and anti-Syria groups.
The leaders of the Islamic Hamas, which was a beneficiary of the Syrian government's policies, left Damascus and moved to Cairo and Doha after the unrest broke out.
Deputy head of Hamas' politburo, Moussa Abu Marzouk, voiced then the movement's rejection of the security solution espoused by the Syrian government. However, many other Palestinian leaders showed overt support to the Syrian government and less enthusiasm to the rebels.
Several others have chosen to maintain silent.
At the beginning, the Palestinians were blamed by pro- government Syrians for their tolerance towards the opposition and for their logistical, medical and housing assistance to the activists.
On the other hand, some Palestinians were criticized by Syrian opponents on their vague attitude towards the Syrian crisis, pointing to their reluctance to participate in any anti-government demonstrations.
However, clashes between the Syrian army and insurgents have recently and unexpectedly spread to one of the Palestinian camps near the capital Damascus. The refugees were forced to choose to stand alongside either the rebels or the Syrian government.
They are also worried that the armed clashes near their camp might be renewed in a way similar to what happened at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the Yarmouk camp and nearby streets and alleys turned into a battlefield.
The camp houses around 350,000 Palestinians out of a total of 500,000 Palestinians in Syria, taking up an area of about 2 million square meters about 8 km away from the capital center.
Till recently, it was considered a safe haven for many Syrian families who came to it from adjacent areas. However, clashes have forced Palestinians into renewed displacement, some to other camps inside Syria and others to neighboring countries.
Khan al-Sheih Palestinian camp has reportedly received thousands of Palestinian and Syrian families who have fled the Yarmouk camp.
"This is the third time for me to be dislodged from where I lived," said Ali, a Palestinian at the Yarmouk camp, adding that " following the intense clashes in the area, I left the camp along with my family to Barzah district in Damascus and later to Khan al- Sheih camp."
He said he is worried about his house and small shop. "Is it fateful for the Palestinians to keep moving from one place to another?" he wondered.
Media reports said hundreds of Palestinian refugees had crossed into Lebanon during the past few days, most of them from the Yarmouk camp, which lately witnessed the killing of 21 people by shelling on the adjacent al-Tadamen and al-Hajar al-Asswad districts.
The reports warned that the number of displaced Palestinians is expected to increase in the coming days as military confrontation comes closer to Palestinian refugee camps in Syria.
Some other families are reportedly waiting on the Syrian- Lebanese border for a permission from the Lebanese side to enter the neighboring country.
Moreover, Jordanian officials have also expressed concerns over the mass exodus of Palestinian refugees from Syria amid reports that they are trying to set up temporary camps for them.
"No matter we are supporters or opponents of the Syrian government... we are faced with displacement again and again," said Ridhwan, another Palestinian refugee at the Yarmouk camp. Enditem
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