1) According to the Middle East Report, the "War of the Camps" in Beirut started in May 1985 and ended in January 1988 (1990, 25). Keesing's further reported that the Amal, a Shi'a Moslem militia, launched attacks against the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra, Chatila and Bourj el-Brajneh in the south and west of Beirut on 20 May 1985 (Jan. 1986, 34127). In his book, Pity the Nation, Robert Fisk however, stated that the Amal offensive against the Palestinian refugee camps started on 19 May 1985 (1990, 609). This information is also reported by The Christian Science Monitor (5 June 1986). Amal lifted the siege of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) positions in Chatila and of Bourj el-Brajneh on 21-22 June 1985 (Keesing's Jan. 1986, 34127). The Palestinian refugee camp of Sabra was virtually under full control of Amal and the Sixth Brigade forces by 31 May 1985 (Ibid.). Clashes between Amal and the PLO broke out around Bourj el-Brajneh in early September 1985, followed by a ceasefire agreement concluded in Damascus on 10 September (Ibid.). Renewed heavy fighting between Amal and the PLO occurred around the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut on 19 May 1986 and continued into June, despite mediation efforts by Algeria and Iran (Aug. 1986, 34586). This source reported information about Amal fighters attacking and looting Palestinian property outside the refugee camps (Ibid.). On 13 June 1986, a truce was signed by Amal and the Palestinian National Salvation Front (PNSF) (a dissident faction of the PLO in Lebanon) (Ibid.). However, clashes around the camps continued throughout June, and were brought to a halt with the intervention of the Syrian army (Ibid.). The Middle East and North Africa 1990 reported that fighting resumed between November 1986 and February 1987 (1991, 604).

According to Keesing's, Syrian forces entered Chatila on 7 April and Bourj el-Brajneh on 8 April 1987, ending the siege of the Palestinian camps by Amal forces (Keesing's May 1987, 35104). However, The Middle East and North Africa 1990 stated that although the blockade of the Palestinian refugee camps had been proclaimed in April 1987, they remained effectively under siege, apparently under the supervision of the Syrian troops, and freedom of movement was confined to women and children (1991, 605). This same source reported that on 11 September 1987, an agreement was announced between Amal and the PLO in the camps, but fighting resumed again (Ibid.). On 16 January 1988, Nabih Berri, the leader of Amal, announced the ending of the siege of the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut; Amal and the Sixth Brigade forces withdrew their positions around Bourj el-Brajneh and Chatila camps, to be replaced by Syrian troops (Ibid.).

2) Keesing's states that Amal attempted to destroy the military presence of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Beirut when it launched its offensive against the refugee camps (Jan. 1986, 34127). This source added that Amal was aided by the mainly Shi'a Sixth Brigade of the Lebanese army (Ibid.). The refugee camps of Sabra and Chatila were almost totally destroyed (Ibid.). According to Augustus Richard Norton, the attack against Palestinian camps by Amal was intended to stop the re-establishment of the PLO's military role in Lebanon, and mainly in the Shi'a dominated south (1987, 121). In his book where he described his personal experience as a doctor working in the Palestinian refugee camps during the siege, Dr. Chris Giannou reported that the Syrians wanted to control the Palestinians and the PLO (1990, 167). Giannou added that this was a Syrian ploy to attempt to use the siege of the Palestinian camps as a political pawn in a pressure-politics game (Ibid.). According to The Christian Science Monitor, Amal and the Syrian regime share the twin objectives of preventing the return of the PLO to Lebanon (17 July 1986).

3) Information on deliberate attempts to poison water is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa. According to Reuters, water contamination has been reported (29 Mar. 1987). For information on atrocities committed please consult Keesing's (Jan. 1986, 34128), which reported killings and kidnapping, and Pity the Nation (Fisk 1990, 610).

4) There are reports about the killings by snipers of women and children trying to march of the besieged Shatila camps to get food (Reuters 1 Apr. 1987; 29 Mar. 1987). Giannou reported that
The siege continued, only the terms changed. What was now described as a 'military blockade' would persist until 'final political solution' could be found. Anything of military value could not pass the checkpoint at the entrance to the refugee district. This meant not only weapons or munitions: cement, gravel, sand, and iron bars to repair what was left of the camp's dwellings were prohibited, since they could also be used, theoretically, to build military fortifications, as were radio batteries, which could be used in walkie-talkies. Only women and children had freedom of passage. [...] The general intent, however, was obviously to prevent any renewed stocking of goods in the camp (1990, 186).

For further information please refer to the attached documents.

Bibliography

The Christian Science Monitor. 17 July 1987. Kaylani, Nabil. "What's Behind Camp War?"

. 5 June 1986. Muir, Jim. "Beirut Battles Highlight Shiites Fear of PLO Resurgence."

Fisk, Robert. 1990. Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War. London: Andre Deusch.

Giannou, Chris. 1990. Besieged: A Doctor's Story of Life and Death in Beirut. Toronto: Key Porter and Book.

Keesing's Record of World Events. January 1986. Vol. XXXII. "Middle East-Arab World."

. August 1986. Vol. XXXII. "Middle East-Arab World."

. May 1987. Vol. XXXIII. "Middle East-Arab World."
. March 1987. Vol. XXXIII. "Middle East-Arab World."

The Middle East and North Africa 1990. 1991. "Lebanon". London: Europa Publications Limited.

The Middle East Report. January-February 1990, No 162. "Lebanon's War: Any End in Sight?"

Norton, Augustus Richard. 1987. Amal and the Shi'a: Struggle for the Soul of Lebanon. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Reuters. 29 March 1987. "Snipers Kill Five Palestinians on Hunger March in Beirut."

. 1 April 1987. Jaber, Hala. "Palestinian Children Said to Die of Malnutrition."

Attachments

The Christian Science Monitor. 17 July 1987. Kaylani, Nabil. "What's Behind Camp War?"

. 5 June 1986. Muir, Jim. "Beirut Battles Highlight Shiites Fear of PLO Resurgence."

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 23 May 1989. Response to Information Request LBN0924.

. 1 November 1989. Response to Information Request LBN2676.

Fisk, Robert. 1990. Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War. London: Andre Deusch.

Giannou, Chris. 1990. Besieged: A Doctor's Story of Life and Death in Beirut. Toronto: Key Porter and Book.

Keesing's Record of World Events. January 1986. Vol. XXXII. "Middle East-Arab World."
. August 1986. Vol. XXXII. "Middle East-Arab World."
. May 1987. Vol. XXXIII. "Middle East-Arab World."

. March 1987. Vol. XXXIII. "Middle East-Arab World." The Middle East and North Africa 1990. 1991. "Lebanon". London: Europa Publications Limited.

The Middle East Report. January-February 1990, No 162. "Lebanon's War: Any End in Sight?"

Norton, Augustus Richard. 1987. Amal and the Shi'a: Struggle for the Soul of Lebanon. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Reuters. 29 March 1987. "Snipers Kill Five Palestinians on Hunger March in Beirut."

. 1 April 1987. Jaber, Hala. "Palestinian Children Said to Die of Malnutrition."

. 26 June 1986. Abdallah, Diana. "Palestinians Emerge Weary but Defiant From Beirut "Camp War"."

The United Press International. 7 April 1987. Nakhoul, Samia. "Syrians End Siege of Palestinian Refugee Camp."

. 1 July 1986. "Reporters Tour Scarred Palestinian Camp."

. 30 June 1986. "Wounded Removed From Palestinian Camps."

. 27 June 1986. "Fighting Flares Around Camps and in West Beirut."

. 5 April 1986. "Amal Gunmen Clash with Palestinians in Refugee Camps."

The Washington Post. 1 April 1986. Boustany, Nora. "Factions Battle for Beirut Camps."