HRW Calls for Repatriation of Nationals from Syrian Detainment Camps

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged nations Friday to urgently repatriate their citizens trapped in Syrian detainment camps, where thousands are living in life-threatening conditions, Jurist News reported. HRW emphasized that governments must fulfill their international legal obligations by prosecuting those responsible for crimes and supporting reintegration efforts. The organization criticized the recent suspension of U.S. foreign aid to NGOs operating in these camps.

The security situation in northeast Syria has worsened since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, leading to renewed hostilities between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Following the defeat of ISIS in March 2019, the SDF detained thousands suspected of affiliation with the group, along with their families.

Currently, approximately 42,500 individuals, mostly women and children, are housed in the al-Hol and Roj camps, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical care, along with exposure to violence and abuse. HRW stressed the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.