SOHR Demands Immediate Solution to ‘Al-Hol Mini-State’ Crisis  

The Syrian Democratic Forces at one of the entrances to al-Hol camp (EPA)
The Syrian Democratic Forces at one of the entrances to al-Hol camp (EPA)
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SOHR Demands Immediate Solution to ‘Al-Hol Mini-State’ Crisis  

The Syrian Democratic Forces at one of the entrances to al-Hol camp (EPA)
The Syrian Democratic Forces at one of the entrances to al-Hol camp (EPA)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has renewed its appeal to the international community to find an immediate and lasting solution to al-Hol’s crisis and put a serious plan for rehabilitating the camp’s children and women.

The war monitor published a report on its website stating that the successive incidents at the camp, which is located in the far southeast region of al-Hasakah, are now unrefuted evidence of the chaos recently unleashed by ISIS in Syria.

The refugee camp has become more like a “mini-state” hosting ISIS-affiliated members and families, the report stressed, noting that most countries continue to ignore this crisis to avoid repatriating their unwelcome citizens who joined the “notorious” organization.

Chaos and lack of security are prevalent within the camp, turning it into a “ticking bomb” that cannot be ignored. 

SOHR pointed out that no murder crimes were committed by ISIS members in the camp during October 2022. It attributed this improvement in the security situation to the completion of the second phase of the Operation Humanity and Security on Sep. 17.  

The Kurdish Internal Security Forces (Asayish) launched the operation in the overcrowded refugee camp on August 25, in light of the increase in acts of murder and violence. 

Meanwhile, a new batch of Iraqi families left the camp in coordination between the Autonomous Administration and the Iraqi government.  

On Oct.18, 161 Iraqi families, including 659 people, left for Iraq, while the government refused to repatriate more nationals.  

No Syrian families were evacuated from the camp in October, but many foreign children and women were repatriated to their countries. 

On Oct. 20, the Department of Foreign Relations handed over 38 Russian children to the Russian president’s Commission for Child Rights.

This step was made after both parties signed an official document in the presence of al-Hol’s administration in the headquarters of the Autonomous Administration’s Department of Foreign Relations in Qamishli city, north of al-Hasakah. 

It came in light of the coordination between the Department of Foreign Relations in north and east Syria and Russia to repatriate children detained in camps to their countries. 

On October 26, the Department of Foreign Relations handed two Canadian children and two women of ISIS families to a Canadian delegation after signing an official document between both parties. 

Since early 2022, SOHR has documented 28 murders in the camp, which left 30 people dead, eight of whom are Iraqi refugees, including two women, 12 Syrian people, including eight women, eight unidentified women, a medic and an unidentified man. 



Syrian FM Says Will Visit European Countries in Coming Period

Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani (C) meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) in Damascus, Syria, 10 January 2025. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI
Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani (C) meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) in Damascus, Syria, 10 January 2025. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI
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Syrian FM Says Will Visit European Countries in Coming Period

Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani (C) meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) in Damascus, Syria, 10 January 2025. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI
Italy's Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani (C) meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) in Damascus, Syria, 10 January 2025. EPA/GIUSEPPE LAMI

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said on Friday that he will visit European countries in the coming period.

He spoke during a press conference with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani in Damascus.

Tajani said he was traveling to Syria on Friday to encourage the country's transition following the ouster of President Bashar Assad, and said Europe should review its sanctions on Damascus now that the political situation has changed.

“It’s an issue that should be discussed because Assad isn’t there anymore, it’s a new situation, and I think that the encouraging signals that are arriving should be further encouraged,” he said.