Nearly 18,000 Iraqis Remain in Al-Hol Camp Amid Repatriation Efforts

Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displaced reported that approximately 18,000 Iraqi nationals are still housed in the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, which is known for holding individuals linked to ISIS, Rudaw news agency reported yesterday.

Ali Abbas, the ministry’s spokesperson, indicated that around 4,500 to 5,000 families have been successfully repatriated, with plans to return an additional 150 to 160 families, though the exact timeline remains uncertain.

The al-Hol camp, which currently shelters about 40,000 people associated with ISIS, has been criticized as a breeding ground for terrorism since the jihadists’ defeat in 2019. Repatriation efforts face significant opposition within Iraq, as local tribes are reluctant to accept individuals connected to the group responsible for severe human rights abuses from 2014 to 2017.

Most repatriated individuals are relocated to the al-Jada camp in Nineveh province for community reintegration. Kurdish authorities have urged the international community to assist in repatriating their nationals, but responses have been limited due to security concerns.