The United Nations (UN) has announced it will take over management of the al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria, which holds thousands of individuals with alleged links to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). This decision follows the withdrawal of Kurdish-led forces that managed the camp, prompted by the advance of Syrian government forces, leading to unrest and lootings.
Reports indicate that the residents attempted to breach the camp’s perimeters in a bid to escape. A ceasefire has established much of Syria's north-east under the control of Damascus, ending years of Kurdish autonomy.
UN official Edem Wosornu briefed the UN Security Council, confirming a transfer of responsibilities for managing al-Hol to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, which is collaborating with Syrian authorities to restore humanitarian access. However, conditions within the camp remain 'tense and volatile,' with humanitarian operations still halted.
Simultaneously, the US has initiated an effort to relocate high-risk detainees from the area. US Central Command reported the transfer of up to 7,000 suspected IS fighters from northeastern Syria to Iraq, with initial moves already underway for150 detainees.
Iraqi authorities assert that those transferred will face prosecution under Iraqi law, although rights groups caution that detainees may face serious abuses upon relocation. The Reprieve charity has highlighted concerns regarding the fate of British nationals within this group and urged for emergency intervention from the UK government.
Both the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the US have long advocated for the repatriation of foreign IS suspects and their families from Syria, citing the instability and dire conditions in local prisons and camps, though many countries have been reluctant to accept them.
