Syria moves out last residents of ISIL-linked desert camp

"Official Fadi al-Qassem says all residents have left al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of alleged ISIL (ISIS) members. Syrian authorities say they have fully evacuated and shut down a remote camp that once kept thousands of relatives of alleged members of the armed group ISIL (ISIS). The last residents were sent out in a convoy Sunday morning, according to Fadi al-Qassem, the Syrian government official overseeing the camp."

"At its peak in 2019, the camp held some 73,000 people. Last month, there were about 24,000 residents, mostly Syrians but also Iraqis and more than 6,000 other foreigners of around 40 nationalities. While the camp's residents were not technically prisoners and most have not been accused of crimes, they had been held in de facto detention at the heavily guarded facility for years."

"Last month, Syria's government took control of the camp from Kurdish authorities, as Damascus extended its reach across northeastern Syria. Since then, thousands of its detainees, including family members of suspected ISIL members, have left for unknown destinations. Hundreds have been sent to the Akhtarin camp in Aleppo province, while others have been repatriated to Iraq. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in the United Kingdom, reported an unspecified number of residents left the camp individually, without waiting for the organised convoys."

Syrian authorities fully evacuated and shut down the al-Hol camp in Hasakah province. The final residents departed in a convoy on Sunday morning. Al-Hol long hosted relatives of suspected ISIL fighters and reached about 73,000 people at its 2019 peak. In the previous month the camp held roughly 24,000 residents, including Syrians, Iraqis and over 6,000 foreigners from around 40 nationalities. Residents were held in de facto detention for years despite not being technically prisoners. Syrian forces took control from Kurdish authorities last month. Since the takeover thousands have left for unknown destinations; hundreds went to Akhtarin and others were repatriated to Iraq. Many Syrians returned to hometowns while many foreigners traveled west to Idlib or Aleppo. Authorities say the relocated residents are mainly women and children who will need reintegration support.

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