AIN AL-HILWEH, Lebanon: Hundreds of Palestinian refugees in the Ain al-Hilweh braved rain and wind Sunday to march for peace and security in the camp, following a spate of violence last month. Civil society groups and activists in the camp called for the march, the first of its kind in any of the country’s Palestinian camps. Refugees walked through the streets of the camp, which were flooded by heavy rain, holding banners displaying their demands.

“Leave us [Palestinian camp officials! We are fed up with you!” read a rain-soaked banner, carried by Nuhad Abul Haija.

“We walk in the rain so that the camp will not drown in blood; we walk because of the chaotic spread of arms, and to prevent the outbreak of strife which is being plotted by local officials,” said Abul Haija.

Ain al-Hilweh camp, which lies on the outskirts of the southern coastal city of Sidon, is the largest Palestinian camp in Lebanon and home to tens of thousands of refugees.

Two bodyguards of Mahmoud Issa, the head of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Armed Struggle force in the camp, were killed in separate incidents last month in the space of few days.

Armed clashes broke out between Fatah and Fatah al-Islam last summer and the camp sees frequent shootings and bombings.

Problems in the camp are exacerbated by a tense rivalry between Munir Maqdah, a senior Fatah commander in the camp, and Issa, who is better known as “Lino.”

Echoing Abul Haija, a 12th-grade student expressed her frustration with Palestinian leaders in the camp.

“Those who rule us are illiterate and ignorant and are only concerned with filling their pockets and feeding their stomachs,” she said. “They don’t care if people in the camp die.”

“Stop terrorizing our children! Stop ruining our society!” interjected another woman.

“Leaders! Do not confuse the target! Israel is the only enemy! Isn’t it time for rulers to pay attention to their people?” read one banner.

Fighters from the various Palestinian factions in the camp stayed off the streets during the march to prevent provocation. No officials from any faction took part in the protest.

“I hope the camp will be always empty of arms and gunmen,” said Salah Maqdah, a young boy. “We sit at home and suddenly a grenade explodes, gunfire rattles and we become afraid.”

According to Maqdah, the solution to the problems in Ain al-Hilweh lies in disarming all groups in the camp. “We want to live in peace, without shooting,” he said. “We are not terrorists.”

But Maher Shbayta, a Fatah official in the camp, said that the march was not aimed against any group.

“It calls for peace and stability inside the camp and we support every move that calls for stability,” he said.

The voices of sellers touting their goods could be heard as protesters approached the Ain al-Hilweh’s vegetable market. “The life of refugees has become cheaper than radishes,” stated one resident.

Shortly afterward, protesters began to chant: “Wake up people! We don’t want gunmen! The people want to topple arms!”

Participants in the march swore to take to the streets dozens of times and force any officials who don’t cooperate to leave the camp.

The popular protest in the camp was triggered two weeks ago when Jihad Mawaad, a resident, walked alone through the camp carrying a banner that expressed his frustration with the socio-economic and security conditions in the camp.

Mawaad described Sunday’s march as “the Camp Spring” to achieve peace and security for its residents.

Following Mawaad’s move, civil society groups held several meetings to organize and finalize a program of popular action to pressure Palestinian leaders to control the security situation in the camp.

The organizers are considering making nine demands, including banning the use of arms, restricting the carrying of arms to inside offices and headquarters of factions, refraining from protecting outlaws inside the camp and handing any fugitives to Lebanese authorities.