Brussels, 29/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Reacting to the effects of the fighting between the Islamic group Fatah al Islam and the Lebanese army to the north of Tripoli, the European Commission has decided to allocate €370,000 to provide humanitarian support for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Over 12,000 refugees have fled the Nahr el Bared camp in the last days. Most of them are currently living in another Palestinian refugee camp known as Beddawi. Several public buildings have also been provided by the Lebanese authorities and other refugees have been taken in by the local population. Around 15,000 refugees are still caught in the fighting at Nahr el Bared. This humanitarian funding will address the vital needs of about 30,000 Palestinian refugees, providing food, water, non-food items, medical assistance and psychological support. The EU's operational partners already active in the region (NGOs, United Nations agencies, Red Cross Movement), have already started to implement these humanitarian activities. Commissioner Olli Rehn, deploring the fact that “these populations, that are already affected by extremely difficult living conditions, now find themselves trapped in a conflict that does not concern them”, urged “all parties (in the conflict) to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian law, in particular, to facilitate the delivery of aid and the evacuation of innocent civilian persons”. (ol)