Abbas approves changes in Lebanon refugee camps

President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday gave his approval to several resolutions affecting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, a statement from the embassy in Beirut said. The resolutions were initially discussed during a visit by Fatah central committee member Azzam Ahmad on March 16. Ahmad had met with Palestinian faction representatives in Lebanon to discuss ways to improve the situation of refugees. Abbas approved the meeting's recommendation to integrate security and civil branches in refugee camps into one national security institution to be headed by Subhi Abu Arab and supervised by secretary general of camps in Lebanon Fathi Abu al-Aradat. There are currently over 400,000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Lebanon and the fragile sectarian composition of Lebanese society makes their presence a sensitive issue. Refugees in the country have long suffered discrimination and are deprived of basic rights