Human Rights Watch warns: The fate of thousands of residents unclear after the closure of al-Hol camp

Human Rights Watch announced that the evacuation process of al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria was largely unorganized and chaotic, leading to uncertainty about the fate of approximately 8,500 people from the families of ISIS members who had been residing in al-Hol and Roj camps.

The organization explained that the announcement by the transitional government in Syria of the closure of al-Hol camp was followed by the departure of large numbers of residents without clear mechanisms for documentation or follow-up, raising serious concerns about the safety of women and children and the possibility of their exposure to risks of human trafficking, exploitation, or recruitment by armed groups.

The transitional government had announced on January 30 its intention to close al-Hol and Roj camps, following the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from al-Hol camp on January 20, as part of a redeployment in response to attacks launched by factions affiliated with the transitional government on areas in northern and eastern Syria.

On February 22, the government announced the complete closure of al-Hol camp, coinciding with the circulation of video clips on social media showing smuggling operations involving families linked to ISIS, in addition to media reports that spoke of widespread escape cases.

Until mid-January, al-Hol and Roj camps housed approximately 28,000 people, including 12,500 foreigners from more than 60 countries, in addition to about 4,000 Iraqis, according to previous data.

The organization called on the Syrian authorities to work on identifying all those who left, providing them with adequate shelter and health and psychological services, and ensuring fair legal procedures that respect international standards. It also urged the governments of the concerned countries to take urgent action to repatriate their citizens and guarantee the protection of their fundamental rights, paving the way for their reintegration and rehabilitation.