UNDP, Italy sign €3 million agreement to aid reintegration of Iraqi returnees from Syria’s Al-Hol camp

BAGHDAD— The United Nations Development Programme has signed a €3 million agreement with the Italian government to support the reintegration of Iraqi citizens returning from the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. The project aims to address both immediate and long-term needs of returnees, focusing on economic empowerment, mental health recovery, and the creation of supportive environments to aid in their acceptance within local communities.

The agreement was formalized in a ceremony on Friday in Baghdad, attended by Iraq’s Minister of Migration and Displacement, Evan Faiq Jabro, Italy’s Chargé d’Affaires Chiara Francini, and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sasha Graumann.

Al-Hol camp, located in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah governorate, has housed over 50,000 people, primarily women and children, many under 18. The camp has raised security concerns due to its potential role as a recruitment ground for extremism. Most residents are Syrian and Iraqi nationals, with suspected family ties to ISIS members.

The initiative will provide essential services such as healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and trauma recovery, specifically targeting women and children. “Many of whom have lived in closed camps and detention facilities, face a multitude of urgent humanitarian and security challenges, including lack of access to basic services such as healthcare and education, and exposure to trauma and violence,” a statement from UNDP read.

In late August, Iraq’s National Security Advisory announced that approximately 9,000 individuals, comprising 2,448 families, had been successfully repatriated from Syria’s Al-Hol camp.

The project emphasizes community cohesion, involving local leaders to foster reconciliation and trust. By ensuring a comprehensive approach to reintegration, the plan seeks to strengthen social, economic, and psychological support systems for these individuals.

Sascha Graumann stated, “This partnership represents an important step forward in addressing the complex challenges faced by returnees and their communities. By working together, we can ensure that reintegration is both successful and sustainable, enabling returnees and host communities to rebuild their lives.”

Chiara Francini, Italy’s Chargé d’Affaires, stated, “This project’s goal is to rebuild trust and social cohesion in Iraq. It is also a new opportunity to continue the cooperation between Italy and Iraq based on the common values of respect for human dignity, freedom of choice and the right to a safe and peaceful return.”