Situation in the Palestinian refugee camps – Letter from Acting CEIRPP Chairman

Letter dated 20 February 1987 from the Acting Chairman of the

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the

Palestinian People addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to refer to the letter dated 11 February 1987 (A/42/122-S/18682) which the Chairman of the Committee sent to you and to express the Committee's utmost concern at the fact that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has once again been prevented from delivering food and medicines to the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut and in the vicinity of Tyre, despite the repeated and urgent appeals made recently by the international community.

According to information made public by UNRWA yesterday, a United Nations lief convoy was held up for two consecutive days while trying to deliver food to Palestinian refugees in the Rashidieh camp.  The current fighting in West Beirut has hampered all attempts to reach the Burj el-Barajneh and Shatila camps, which are likewise cut off.

In view of the desperate situation of the Palestinian civilians who have been trapped in the camps for months and who are on the verge of starvation, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People wishes to reiterate its urgent appeal to you and to all the parties concerned that everything possible should be done to enable UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide emergency relief to the Palestinian refugees, for whom the international community bears a special responsibility.

In conclusion, I would like to request that you have this letter distributed as a document of the General Assembly, under item 38 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

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