Iraq repatriates 360 nationals from Syria camp

30-01-2025
Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq on Thursday repatriated an additional 360 nationals from the notorious al-Hol camp in northeast Syria (Rojava) as part of efforts to return all Iraqis held in the camp, said the Kurdish security forces (Asayish).

Asayish said in a statement that, in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish administration in Rojava, it “facilitated the departure of 83 Iraqi families from the camp to al-Jadaa camp in Iraq. These families included 360 individuals.”

Most repatriated individuals are temporarily housed in al-Jada camp in Iraq’s northern Nineveh province, to be prepared for reintegration into their communities.

“This measure comes as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the burden on al-Hol camp and return displaced persons to their original areas in coordination with Iraqi authorities. The operation was carried out smoothly and safely, with security and logistics teams overseeing the families' arrival at their new destination,” it added.

On Wednesday, Ali Abbas, the spokesperson of the Iraqi migration and displaced ministry, told Rudaw that 11,529 people had been repatriated to al-Hol camp, all of which were sent to Jada camp.

Iraqis and Syrians make up the majority of the 40,000 ISIS-linked people held at the camp, which has been branded a breeding ground for terrorism.

The repatriation of ISIS-linked citizens has sparked opposition in Iraq, with tribes unwilling to accept people associated with the group that committed heinous human rights abuses and war crimes from 2014 to 2017, when they controlled vast swathes of the country.

Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria have repeatedly called on the international community to repatriate their nationals from the camps, but their calls have largely gone unanswered as most countries are unwilling to bring back their citizens due to security concerns.

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