Most foreign families have left northeast Syria’s Al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of fighters for the Islamic State jihadist group, since the departure of Kurdish forces who previously guarded it, humanitarian sources tell AFP.
Located in a desert region of Hasakeh province, Al-Hol is Syria’s largest camp for suspected ISIS relatives and was home to some 24,000 people, mostly women and children, including some 15,000 Syrians, several thousand Iraqis and more than 6,000 other foreigners from around 40 nationalities.
A source from a humanitarian organization, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that “since last Saturday… there are no more than 20 families in the foreigners’ annex.”
Women and children, including many from Russia, the Caucasus and the Central Asian republics had lived in the high-security section of the camp separate from Syrians and Iraqis.
A humanitarian worker, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, said that since last Saturday, “there are no more than 20 families in the foreigners’ annex.” Another aid source confirmed the section was largely empty, noting that some women had relocated to the camp’s main area.
SDF’s withdrawal from Hol Camp
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which have protected humanity from ISIS brutality for years, announced on January 20 that their forces were compelled to withdraw from al-Hol camp due to the international community’s indifference towards the ISIS issue and its failure to assume its responsibilities in addressing this serious matter. The SDF units were redeployed to areas surrounding cities in northern Syria that are facing increasing dangers and threats.
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