Iraq to host Al-Hol camp conference on UNGA sidelines

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro said Friday that an international conference on Al-Hol camp will be held Sept. 26 in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, chaired by President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid with broad Iraqi and international participation.

Jabro said the event aims to mobilize global support for repatriating foreign nationals from the camp and “paving the way for its final closure, which will put an end to years of human suffering and enhance regional security and stability.”

She noted the effort comes “under the guidance and follow-up of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani” and builds on years of work by her ministry. Jabro will chair an Integration Committee of legal and technical experts to prepare a roadmap for rehabilitation and reintegration while strengthening security and preserving stability.

Al-Hol camp, in northeast Syria, holds more than 50,000 people — mostly women and children, including thousands of Iraqis — detained or displaced as the Islamic State group lost its last territory in 2019. The Syrian Democratic Forces, who oversee the camp, have urged countries to repatriate their citizens, but large numbers, varied backgrounds, and logistical hurdles have complicated the process.

Alongside Al-Hol, Iraqis are also among detainees at Syria’s al-Roj camp and in SDF detention centers. Iraqi officials say resolving the camps remains central to ending displacement cycles and reducing security risks.