The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) has urged the international community to follow the example set by Iraq in repatriating citizens who had previously been affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) and are currently detained in the notorious al-Hol camp. The announcement by Iraq concerning its success in returning 3,000 former members of the IS group creates potential relief for the increasing crisis situation at the camp.
Al-Hol camp exists in the al-Hasakah province of north-eastern Syria where tens of thousands of people reside including numerous suspected IS fighter relatives. Al-Hol camp functions as a regional stability destabilizing factor because of its crowded and unstable environment. The critical conditions inside al-Hol worry both humanitarian groups and local authorities because unresolved matters at the camp threaten both extremist growth and regional stability.
During an interview with The New Arab Fethullah Husseini explained the current circumstances inside the camp to represent the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. The interview subject confirmed that more than 12,000 families linked to IS stay incarcerated at al-Hol with no visible way to return home. The repatriation of Iraqi people from the camp has started although many individuals from different nationalities continue to stay at the camp waiting to be repatriated.
The Iraqi repatriation policy received appreciation from Husseini because he recognized it presented a necessary solution for dealing with the difficulties at al-Hol camp. He urged other countries to mirror Iraq’s approach and prioritize the safe repatriation of their nationals. “We have to feed and guard these individuals,” Husseini noted. “This is a tremendous burden on our authorities, and we are prepared to support repatriations to reduce that burden.”
For Husseini, al-Hol is more than a logistical problem; it is a security threat to the entire region. “Al-Hol is a ticking time bomb. If it goes off, it could destabilize not just north-eastern Syria but also Iraq and the entire region,” he stated.
It has become a glaring reminder of the continuing menace IS fighters and their families pose, many of whom are thought to hold extremist views. Meanwhile, the absence of a concerted international effort for the repatriation of individuals from that camp has left local authorities to grapple singularly with the multifaceted humanitarian and security problems therein. This prolonged adjourning of IS associates in very overcrowded and precarious conditions only augurs greater chances of radicalization and violence.
The international community has generally faltered in devising a comprehensive strategy for the crisis at al-Hol. While certain nations have undertaken the repatriation of arguably small numbers of their nationals, other countries have been slow to follow suit, citing security concerns and lack of confidence in their populations’ prospects for rehabilitation. However, Iraq’s recent success in repatriating thousands of former IS members offers a hopeful example that could encourage other nations to act.
Husseini’s call for other nations to follow Iraq’s lead is a plea for both humanitarian responsibility and regional stability. The al-Hol situation “cannot go on forever,” he said, and represents an increasingly serious threat not just to Syria and Iraq, he said, “but threatens international peace and security more widely.”
While the AANES calls alarm over the deteriorating conditions at al-Hol is undoubtedly a cause for concern, should it remain unresolved, it is also an opportunity for the international community to listen to its entreaty for stronger, coordinated repatriation efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis and undermine the potential for a new cycle of extremist insurgency in the region.
