ple into submission.
THE siege conditions around the Palestinian camps in Lebanon has existed in its present form for over three months. But essentially a siege at one level or other has existed since last There was a short siege in April 1986 that was formally ended in May. From then on women were allowed to move in and out of the camps. But young men were still afraid to move because of fear of being kidnapped.
Hundreds of young men were kidnapped between these sieges taken to detention centres in Beirut. They were tortured, maimed some ater released.
Over three months ago the siege of Burj al-Barajneh and Shatila started. They were both swollen by refugees from Sabra camp - which could not be rebuilt after last year's battles There is also a small Marellyas camp which is on Christian land and which has grown from 2,000 to more than 15,000.
Conditions in the desparate. Water is the first problem. Although there has not yet a total lack of water that is because it is winter. There are no underground sewers. Drinking water is mixed with sewage.
There is an extremely serious food shortage. People ran out of food supplies about one and a half months after this siege started. One of the main sources of food, up to a fer weeks ago, was the wild shrubs and wecus malgrow aroune ue callo Now even these have totally run out.
Dole people, have been trying to venture out galer weeas and suruos arouna une outskirts of the camps. Many have been kidnapped or killed by Amal SLOCIS In Burj-al-Barajneh people have been feeding on cats, dogs, mules and rats for weeks now. Now these have run out. THE ACCOUNTS of the conditions in the Palestine refugee camps of Burj al-Barajneh and Shatila under siege in Lebanon have horrified the world. The press is presenting a picture of Lebanon descending into anarchy'. But the truth is that a brutal war is being waged by the United States, Israel, Syria and their allies to try to smash the Palestinian peoA report from a Canadian surgeon • working in Burj-al-Barajneh told how from last Saturday the people decided to go on voluntary tast to save any remaining food for pregnant women, young children and elderly people, who were starving. Because of these conditions there are a huge number of cases of typhoid, intestinal infections and skın diseases.
In Burj-al-Barahneh most of the water supplies are cut. Only one water point is functioning estimated 20,000 people in this camp. Women have been sniped at while going to this water point.
Burj-al-Barajneh has
hospital. It used to have three floors and a basement but the top floors have been flattened by shelling. Only the underground part of the building operating theatre and about thirty Dees.
In Shatila there is one small hospital in use, which used to be a small emergency hospital. The main hospital for the people of Shatila cannot be reached any more. In both camps medical supplies have run out completely.
In Burj-al-Barajneh there are no painkillers at all. On surgeon reported that on that evening alone she did fourteen amputations and is often forced to do amputations because of the lack of basic medical equipment and supplies which make other treatments impossible.
By 26 January this year, according to the tigures of the Palestinian Rec to Crescent, equivalent .LO the CrOSS. 1924 Palestinians killed, 4549 injured and 79,000 made homeless in the siege and bombardment. On Monday in only one camp - Burj-al-Barajhneh - 17 were killed and the shelling of all the camps was so bad that radio contact completely broke down.
Behind the attack on the Palestimans - see page 4 RIMA MILHIM, secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Students, explains the truth of what is taking place for an in Lebanon.
ONC Friday one Red been people
Socialist Action 20 Feb 1987