UN Officials Warn of Growing Threat from Syria’s Al-Hol Camp Amid Efforts for Closure
UN officials have raised urgent concerns over worsening conditions in Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, warning it risks becoming a hub for extremist recruitment if not addressed swiftly.
The camp, near the Iraqi border, houses more than 10,000 foreign militants and their families. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid said that since the start of Iraq’s repatriation program, nearly 4,915 families—around 18,880 people—have been returned home, with reintegration efforts underway. Nationals from six countries remain in the camp, while 34 others have repatriated citizens, according to a feature article by Arab News.
Alexandre Zouev, UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, described conditions in Al-Hol as “dire and alarming,” citing limited services and high security risks. He warned that the camp could become an incubator for radicalisation.
UN Special Representative Mohammed Al-Hassan called the prolonged existence of Al-Hol “unacceptable,” urging governments to accelerate repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration measures to prevent further instability.
Meanwhile, The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has urged nations to repatriate their detained and displaced citizens from camps in Syria, particularly Al-Hol camp.
According to the official Iraqi News Agency, CENTCOM Commander General Brad Cooper, speaking on the sidelines of the International Al-Hol Camp Conference in New York, emphasized that repatriating these vulnerable groups before they are exposed to radicalization is not only a humanitarian measure but also an effective blow against the ability of the extremist Sunni group ISIS (Daesh) to rebuild.
Previously, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and President Abdul Latif Rashid both stressed the necessity of accelerating the repatriation of foreign nationals from these camps to maintain regional security.
In a decisive effort for addressing the issue, Iraq has hosted a landmark international conference at the UN headquarters in New York focused on the future of Syria’s Al-Hol camp, gathering delegations from 180 countries and multiple organizations.
The conference, the largest of its kind, centered on the security risks posed by the camp, Iraq’s successful repatriation efforts, and the urgent need for all nations to reclaim their citizens. Participants praised Iraq’s “exceptional efforts” and urged other states to follow suit.
Delegates agreed to accelerate safe and dignified repatriations while strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. The closing statement warned that declining international funding threatens to undermine progress toward closing the camp and respecting Syrian sovereignty.
