Situation in Palestinian refugee camps – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

Letter dated 11 February 1987 from the Chairman of the Committee

on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian

People addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to once again express the Committee's grave concern at the persistence and intensification of attacks on the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra, Shatila and Burj el-Barajneh in Beirut and Rashidieh in Tyre.  The consequences for the civilian population have been tragic.  Since my letter of 10 November 1986 on this subject (A/41/811-S/18452), the violence and destruction have escalated, causing thousands of casualties.

The Committee wishes to express its utmost concern at the fact that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been unable to deliver food or medicines to these camps, which are surrounded and remain inaccessible.  Thousands of innocent women, children and old people are trapped in the camps; several of them are ill and close to starvation.

The sufferings and hardships of the Palestinians in the refugee camps and the destruction they are suffering ought to arouse the indignation of the international community.  In view of the seriousness of this situation, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People wishes to make an urgent appeal to all interested parties to use their influence to enable UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations to provide essential emergency relief to the Palestinian refugees, for whom the international community bears special responsibility.

At the same time, the Committee urges you to renew your efforts to promote a just and.lasting solution to the question of Palestine, the underlying cause of the Middle East conflict, since, in the absence of such a solution, the violence will continue to intensify, with disastrous consequences not only for the region but also for international peace and security.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of this letter distributed as a document of the General Assembly, under the item entitled "Question of Palestine", and of the Security Council.