21 murders so far in 2021 | Iraqi refugee shot dead in “Al-Hawl mini-state”

SOHR sources have reported that unknown gunmen opened machinegun fire on two Iraqi refugees in the first section of Al-Hawl camp in Al-Hasakah countryside, which killed one and injured the other seriously.

 

Al-Hawl camp in the far south-eastern region of al-Hasakah, has been witnessing a noticeable increase in killings since the beginning of 2021, committed by cells of the Islamic State through various ways, including shooting and using sharp tools.

 

Since the beginning of 2021, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented 20 murders, 13 of which took place during January, and eight during February.

 

A breakdown of fatalities was as follows:

 

• 14 Iraqi refugees, including one child and three women

 

• Five Syrian people, including one woman and the head of the “Syrian Council” in the camp.

 

• A member of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish).

 

Also, a gunman of a cell responsible for assassinations and murders in the camp was killed, when he blew himself up with a grenade just after he had been caught by an Asayish patrol which was pursuing him.

 

These statistics are clear evidence of the significant increase in the killings compared to the previous period, where in 2020, the Syrian Observatory documented 33 assassinations in the camp. A breakdown of fatalities was as follows:

 

• 21 Iraqi refugees, mostly collaborators with the Internal Security Forces (Al-Asayish)

 

• Six Russian women

 

• Two Iraqis

 

• Three Syrians

 

• Six Syrian men, including the guard of a relief organization working in the camp.

 

The Syrian Observatory renews its appeal to the international community for a solution to “Al Hawl mini-state” crisis, which is considered a clear and present danger to everyone. We, at the Syrian Observatory, once more renew our call to the UN Security Council, all organizations concerned and countries that claim to respect and champion human rights globally to act immediately to stop the crimes and violations committed against the Syrian people by the Islamic State and many other active actors on the ground, and to establish appropriate courts for prosecuting the perpetrators. We call on all those countries that have citizens in Al-Hawl camp to find a solution for those individuals and face up to their responsibility.