Nahr al-Bared Camp: Two Years under Siege + a Sip of Coffee - (4 Parts)

Nahr al-Bared Camp: Two Years under Siege:

"Two years after the outbreak of the war in Nahr al-Bared, the camp's fate remains unclear. The reconstruction of the official camp might start soon, but the army keeps its tight grip on the camp. Several checkpoints, barbed wire and military posts cut Nahr al-Bared off from its surroundings.

Nahr al-Bared Camp used to be a thriving marketplace in the northern Lebanese region of Akkar and about half its costumers were Lebanese. During the war, the Lebanese army has not only defeated the militant group Fatah al-Islam, but also completely destroyed the refugee camp. Its businesses were looted, smashed and burnt, even after the war had ended. The camp's once flourishing economy was physically eliminated.

Two years later, about half the camp's population has returned to its adjacent area. Hundreds of businesses have re-opened, but economic recovery is seriously hampered by the tight siege imposed by the Lebanese army. Thus, suspicions have risen that the war's actual target wasn't Fatah al-Islam, but Nahr al-Bared's economic life.

In this 10-minute film, the co-owner of an ice cream factory, the president of the local Trader's Committee and the Imam of the al-Quds Mosque speak out on the siege and its economic consequences.

The film can be downloaded here:
http://a-films.blogspot.com/2009/06/2...

Please visit our website for background information and further videos on Nahr al-Bared:
http://a-films.blogspot.com/search/la..."



Nahr al-Bared Camp: A Sip of Coffee (Part 1):

"In May 2007, the battle between Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army broke out in Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp in northern Lebanon. Amidst heavy fighting, the Lebanese army had systematically destroyed the entire camp by September 2007. Two years later, nearly all the rubble has been cleared from the 'old camp', the core of Nahr al-Bared. However, though the displaced residents grow increasingly desperate, reconstruction has yet to begin.

Not only does the Lebanese army keep people away from the old camp, but it also controls movement in and out of the surrounding area known as the 'new camp. Anyone entering the new camp requires a valid permit issued by the army. Refugees and NGOs working to revitalize the once robust economy of the camp face crippling isolation, as the marketplace of Nahr al-Bared is totally cut off from the surrounding villages. A flailing economy and soaring unemployment are only a few of the consequences of the destruction and ongoing siege of the camp.

This 26-minute film follows a father and his son as they attempt to deal with their unemployment. The two have been living in metal barracks for more than a year, waiting to return to their camp. By documenting issues of reconstruction, temporary housing, economy, unemployment and despair, the film touches on the daily experience of life in Nahr al-Bared Camp.

The film can be downloaded here: http://a-films.blogspot.com/2009/06/1...

Please visit our website for background information and further videos on Nahr al-Bared: http://a-films.blogspot.com"

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


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