Syria confirms mass escape from camp housing relatives of ISIL fighters

Syrian Government Confirms Mass Escape from Al-Hol Camp

A Syrian official has confirmed that “mass escapes” occurred from a facility housing relatives of suspected ISIL fighters in northern Syria following the withdrawal of Kurdish-led forces who previously controlled the camp. Noureddine al-Baba, spokesman for Syria’s Ministry of Interior, stated that Syrian forces discovered over 138 breaches in the camp’s perimeter wall upon arrival.

The camp, located in the Hasakah province near the border with Iraq, was under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) before its withdrawal. The SDF reported that the camp held more than 23,000 people prior to its departure. However, al-Baba stated that the majority of the camp’s residents were Syrians and Iraqis, with 6,500 individuals from 44 nationalities also present.

Following the SDF’s sudden withdrawal on January 20, Syrian security forces took control of the camp a few hours later. Al-Baba reported that there was a “chaotic situation” upon arrival, with multiple breaches in the perimeter wall discovered. The exact number of people who have escaped from the al-Hol camp is not yet known.

Syrian authorities have transferred many residents to the Akhtarin camp in Aleppo province, which is reportedly easier for aid agencies to access and provides better conditions for children’s education and rehabilitation. However, some reports suggest that a significant number of individuals remain unaccounted for, scattered across rural areas of Aleppo and Idlib.

Source: Al Jazeera