The end of August is almost upon us and children around the world are getting ready to go back to school. It can be an exciting and demanding time. Parents are busy organising school runs as well as providing new uniforms and study supplies. Millions of young people will be sad to see the back of the summer holidays but will also be excited about being reunited with their schoolmates.
This is the experience of those who live in stable, prosperous countries. The Palestinian children of the Ain Al Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon are not so lucky. Already growing up as refugees from their homeland, all eight UN-run schools in their overcrowded and poverty-stricken camp have been occupied by gunmen locked in an internecine conflict with rival Palestinian factions.
According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), this seizure by the extremist fighters has jeopardised the start of the academic year for nearly 6,000 children. The turmoil being inflicted upon these vulnerable refugees is as dangerous as it is saddening. Growing up in the shadow of the gunman condemns another generation to the threat of violence and radicalisation. Sabotaging children’s education deals another blow to those who already face significant challenges.
Sadly, clashes are not uncommon in Ain Al Hilweh, which holds more than 50,000 registered refugees. The first UNRWA school was taken over by gunmen during a battle in July for control of the camp between armed factions and the powerful Fatah party to which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas belongs. Thirteen people were killed in a week of fighting and dozens were injured. About 2,000 refugees were displaced and forced to seek shelter in schools and mosques. Although a tentative ceasefire has held, the insurgents have so far refused to leave occupied UNRWA property.
A senior member of Fatah told The National that a meeting of the camp’s political leadership to come up with a way out of the current impasse was to be held yesterday. Although any moves to end the conflict peacefully are to be welcomed, the problem goes much deeper than these recent clashes.
Ideally, the Ain Al Hilweh camp should not exist. The fact that several generations of Palestinians have grown up as refugees who live a marginalised existence in Lebanon is a visible reminder of the displacement that the Palestinians suffered and continue to suffer due to the occupation of their homeland. Far from being accepted and supported in their displacement, many Palestinian refugees were left to fend for themselves, leading to the development of self-governing camps that effectively act as a state within a state. The camps and UN support that were meant to be temporary fixes have become permanent.
This presents a considerable challenge to a Lebanese state that is already on the ropes. The security forces’ reluctance to enter Palestinian camps has left them vulnerable to infiltration by criminals and smaller networks of Islamist militants.
The situation is too dangerous to be allowed to simply play out. Ain Al Hilweh is also home to some of the 30,000 Palestinians displaced from the Nahr Al Bared camp in 2007 during 15 weeks of fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamist extremists. Better co-operation between the camp’s leadership, the UN and the Lebanese authorities is one way to defuse the current situation. Leaving Ain Al Hilweh’s schools as hostages to fortune cannot be an option.
SPECS
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Champion%20v%20Champion%20(PFL%20v%20Bellator)
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What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo
Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 28
Sector: Financial services
Investment: $9.5m
Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors.
SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES
Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
BLACK%20ADAM
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AT%20A%20GLANCE
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
RIVER%20SPIRIT
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Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Company%C2%A0profile
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SPECS
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