HRW: Departure of al-Hol camp residents was chaotic, disorganized

The HRW stated that the fate of approximately 8,500 family members of ISIS mercenaries who had been in al-Hol and Roj camps in North and East Syria remains unknown, following the Syrian interim government’s announcement of the closure of al-Hol camp. It stressed that the evacuation was conducted in ways that were “largely uncoordinated and chaotic.”

The Syrian interim government had announced on January 30 its intention to close al-Hol and Roj camps, after the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew from al-Hol camp on January 20 as part of a repositioning move in response to attacks by factions affiliated with the interim government on areas of Rojava and north and east Syria.

On February 22, the interim government declared al-Hol camp fully closed, after videos circulated on social media documenting the smuggling of ISIS families, in addition to Arab and international media reports addressing what was described as near-mass escape operations.

Until mid-January, the two camps housed around 28,000 people, including 12,500 foreigners from more than 60 countries, as well as 4,000 Iraqis.

The organization noted that “the manner of departure exposed women and children to serious risks, including trafficking, exploitation, and recruitment by armed groups,” urging the Syrian authorities to identify those who left, provide them with shelter and medical and psychological services, and ensure fair legal procedures.

Human Rights Watch also called on all governments to take urgent action to repatriate their citizens and guarantee the protection of the fundamental rights of all detainees, paving the way for their reintegration and rehabilitation.

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ANHA