Iraq calls for international conference to tackle Al-Hol camp issue
Part of the Al-Hol camp in Syria, near the Iraqi border. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi National Security Advisor, Qasim Al-Araji, suggested holding an international conference at the level of foreign ministers to deal with the issue of the Al-Hol camp in Syria.
During a meeting held at the Al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies regarding Iraq’s vision of the Al-Hol camp, Al-Araji explained that the Iraqi government, after declaring victory over ISIS, launched a campaign to rebuild the areas affected by the war, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
The Iraqi official elaborated that the government has repeatedly confirmed that the Al-Hol camp poses a threat to Iraq and the world and must be dismantled.
Al-Araji stressed the importance of unifying the efforts of the international community and working to urge countries to withdraw their nationals from the refugee camp.
The National Security Advisor suggested holding an international conference at the level of foreign ministers to find a solution to close this camp.
Al-Araji noted that the Iraqi government transferred 1,369 families from the Al-Hol camp to Iraq and sent them to rehabilitation centers to be able to reintegrate into society once again.
The Iraqi official revealed that 800 families have returned to their original areas of residence after finishing the rehabilitation process, emphasizing that the existence of children in a camp where hatred and extremism are spread will create a new generation of terrorists.
The Al-Hol camp is located in the Syrian countryside of Al-Hasakah, near the Iraqi border, and is under the control of the US army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
According to the United Nations, more than 55 thousand people live in Al-Hol refugee camp, located less than 10 kilometers from the Iraqi borders.
In addition to foreign families of militants, estimated at about 10 thousand people, the camp also shelters families of displaced Syrians and Iraqis, some of whom are still in contact with ISIS.
In 2014, the terrorist group of ISIS took control of large areas in Iraq and Syria before being defeated in 2017.