148 families

Iraqis repatriated from Syria’s Al-Hol Camp to Mosul’s Jada’a Camp

MOSUL — The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced Sunday that 148 Iraqi families have been transferred from Al-Hol Camp in Syria to the Jada’a Camp in southern Mosul, following extensive security checks. The families, composed mainly of women and children, will undergo psychological and social support programs before returning to their original communities.

Khalid Abdulkarim, head of the Nineveh branch of the Directorate of Migration and Displacement, told 964media, “The 148 families, mostly women and children, returned to Mosul yesterday. After thorough security checks confirmed they were not involved in any security-related cases or were wanted by authorities, they were sent to the ‘Amal Center’ within Jada’a Camp for psychological and social support.”

He added that the returning families would participate in specialized programs designed to help them reintegrate into normal life prior to rejoining their home communities. Many of those who remain in Al-Hol Camp are relatives of former ISIS fighters, with earlier waves of repatriations bringing other groups back to Iraq in recent years.

In September 2024, the ministry reported that more than 4,000 Iraqis had been repatriated from Al-Hol. Despite these efforts, over 15,000 Iraqi nationals remain in camps across Syria, including an estimated 54,000 individuals still living in Al-Hol. The camp, which currently holds more than 50,000 people—primarily women and children—continues to draw international concern due to challenging humanitarian conditions and security risks.

Thousands of former ISIS members and their relatives remain under the Syrian Democratic Forces’ custody in northeastern Syria, scattered among detention centers and displacement camps such as Al-Hol and Al-Roj. The SDF, backed by the United States, has repeatedly urged countries to assume responsibility for their nationals. However, logistical hurdles, large numbers of detainees, and their complex backgrounds have made the process of repatriation both difficult and prolonged.