Iraq aims to repatriate all its citizens from al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria by 2027, Iraqi news outlet Rudaw said, citing Ali Abbas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.
The plan, developed in coordination with the United Nations, seeks to return over 20,000 Iraqis, including women and children, who are currently in the camp.
Since 2021, more than 2,600 Iraqi families have been relocated. Many of those repatriated are housed temporarily in al-Jada camp in Nineveh province before reintegration into their communities. However, the process has faced opposition from some Iraqi tribes and communities unwilling to accept individuals linked to ISIS.
Iraq’s national security advisor, Qasim al-Araji, described al-Hol as a security threat, urging other nations to repatriate their citizens as well. The camp holds around 40,000 people, mostly Iraqis and Syrians, with concerns that it serves as a breeding ground for extremism.
