A major movement of Palestinians is underway from various Lebanese refugee camps to Turkey and into Europe in an effort, some say, to escape dire living conditions
"Everyone is leaving; the streets are empty," Hussam, who did not provide a last name, told Al Jazeera.
He is a 36-year-old Palestinian refugee who lives in the Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp - a 1,500-square-metre piece of land home to more than 100,000 predominantly Palestinian refugees. The camp is one of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
Sitting in front of his bakery overlooking the pot-holed street, he shrugged his shoulders. "If you asked me six months ago if I would ever leave, I would've said no. Now, I'm looking for a way out, and I'm not alone. All you smell here is death and despair."
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Visibly frustrated, Hussam asked: "What use are we here to the Palestinian cause if we are struggling to survive and feed our children every day? These Palestinian factions here who keep preaching about the right of return - their children are now in Europe, but they want us to stay for that right? Let them practice what they preach!"