Syrian authorities, along with Kurdish officials, tour infamous detention facility
The Syrian government and Kurdish authorities have initiated discussions on a joint mechanism to evacuate Syrian families from the overcrowded Al-Hol camp, home to approximately 37,000 individuals, including 14,500 Iraqis. The Syrian government's recent visit to the camp signifies a significant step towards addressing the long-standing humanitarian and security concerns.
Discussions between the parties, which also included representatives from the US-led international coalition, focused on establishing a mechanism for the removal and repatriation of Syrian families from the camp. The agreement marks a crucial development in addressing the plight of the families linked to the Islamic State group.
Al-Hol, northeast Syria's largest camp, has been administered by the Kurdish-led authorities since the defeat of ISIS in 2020. Despite managing these camps and prisons, the Kurdish administration has faced pressure to hand over the responsibility to the Syrian government.
The visit by the Syrian government delegation marks a significant milestone, coming more than two months after the interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, agreed to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the national government. The deal also aimed to facilitate the return of all Syrians to their hometowns and villages.
While the agreement marks a step forward, progress has been slow in unifying administrative bodies between the central government and Kurdish authorities. The Syrian government, now led by Islamist factions, is engaging in dialogue but has not yet established joint administration of the camp. The US and the international coalition are involved in negotiations with the Syrian government regarding the transfer of control of detention facilities, including Al-Hol, from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to the Syrian government.
As part of broader efforts to address the security threat posed by detained ISIS fighters and supporters, the US has urged Syria to assume responsibility for the camps. However, the fate of foreign nationals remains unresolved, with most foreign governments being reluctant to repatriate their nationals due to domestic security concerns.
The Syrian authorities emphasize the need for a comprehensive societal approach to address the status of IS-affiliated families, recognizing the broader reintegration and security challenges. The process of evacuating and repatriating Syrian families is expected to be slow due to the complexities of repatriation, security concerns, and the need for safe, voluntary return.
- The ongoing discussions, which involve the Syrian government, Kurdish authorities, and US-led international coalition representatives, aim to develop a joint mechanism for the evacuation and repatriation of Syrian families linked to war-and-conflicts, specifically those from the Islamic State group.
- Beyond the Al-Hol camp, politics and general news concerning the Syrian government's integration of Kurdish civil and military institutions and the return of all Syrians to their hometowns are closely intertwined with crime-and-justice issues, including the transfer of control of detention facilities from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to the Syrian government and the uncertain fate of foreign nationals detained in these facilities.
