Now, once again, an Israeli assault is throwing hundreds of thousands of them on the road.
Palestinian refugee camps were heavily damaged by the Israeli assault.
The tunnels provide protection for the group's guerrillas against Israeli assaults.
Many of its buildings and services have been destroyed by the Israeli assault.
One young man, covering his face with a black-and-white head scarf, said the Israeli assault had come as no surprise.
In addition the country was, for a second time, overrun with many Palestinian refugees, fleeing the Israeli assault.
Israeli assaults on 24 and 25 July were beaten back by stiff resistance.
The photographs of the Israeli assault on Jieh were never seen again.
The attack, about nine miles from the capital, was the first Israeli assault in a week to strike so near Beirut.
Israeli assault sends a tank shell through Arafat's bathroom.