Foreign children in Syrian camps in danger of staying for decades, says NGO

Children held in Syrian camps for having family members suspected of being jihadist fighters could stay there for another 30 years if the pace of repatriation does not accelerate, the organization Save The Children warned Wednesday.

“It will take 30 years for foreign children trapped in unsafe camps in northeastern Syria to return safely to their homes if repatriations continue at the current rate,” the NGO said in a statement.

The entity called for accelerated repatriations by commemorating the third anniversary of the fall of the self-proclaimed caliphate of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

The massive Kurdish military operation against IS, backed by Washington, left thousands of inhabitants of jihadist territory in detention camps, including many foreigners.

Save The Children noted that 18,000 Iraqi children and 7,300 minors from 60 other countries are trapped in Al Hol and Roj camps, under Kurdish administration in northeastern Syria.

“The longer children are left in Al Hol and Roj, the more dangers they face,” said the organization's head for Syria, Sonia Khush.

UN data indicate that around 56,000 people live in Al Hol, an overcrowded camp plagued by murders and attempted escapes.

In 2021, 74 children died there, eight of them killed, according to Save The Children.

The Kurdish authorities have asked foreign states to repatriate their nationals, but most Western countries have sent them back in droppers for fear of an internal political reaction.

“These children have done nothing wrong,” said Khush. “When will the rulers assume their responsibility and take them home?” , he questioned.

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