Iraq repatriates 9,000 citizens from Syria’s notorious Al-Hol Camp

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s National Security Advisory announced on Saturday the successful repatriation of 2,448 families, totaling approximately 9,000 individuals, from Syria’s Al-Hol camp. Saed Al-Jayashi, Strategic Affairs Advisor to the National Security Advisory, stated that 1,940 of these families have been resettled across seven Iraqi provinces.

According to Al-Jayashi, the Iraqi government is committed to “bringing them back, following security, intelligence, and legal verification processes.” He added that upon their return, Iraqi nationals are transferred to the rehabilitation center at Jad’ah camp, where they undergo a 90-day rehabilitation program before reintegrating into their communities.

Jad’ah camp, located about 7 kilometers from Qayyarah district and 86 kilometers from Mosul in Nineveh Governorate, serves as a temporary home for repatriated Iraqis.

Al-Jayashi emphasized the government’s commitment to repatriating all displaced Iraqi families from displacement settings in Turkey and northern Syria, describing the efforts as “closing the chapter on displacement and returning to a normal situation, paving the way for future progress.”

Al-Hol camp in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah governorate is known for housing over 50,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, with many under the age of 18. The camp has been described by authorities as a “ticking time bomb” due to its potential to breed terrorism. Most residents are Syrian and Iraqi nationals, with a significant number of them having alleged ties to ISIS.

In March 2024, Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Araji, expressed concerns about the approximately 20,000 Iraqi minors still in Al-Hol, labeling them as potential “time bombs for the future” and underscoring the urgent need for resolving this crisis.

The Iraqi government has already conducted 16 phases of repatriations, successfully reintegrating around 9,000 individuals. A recent United Nations Development Programme conference also focused on supporting returning families and those who remained in Iraq but were equally deserving of aid.

Al-Jayashi acknowledged challenges in the repatriation process, such as the lack of proper documentation for some families. “The Ministry of Interior is taking the necessary steps to identify these individuals, with names being meticulously checked,” he explained. He noted that those with legal issues will face the judiciary, while others will proceed through rehabilitation before returning to their communities.