Fleeing dire living conditions | Tens of young men leave Al-Rukban camp, some joining Iranian-backed militias

As disastrous situation is deteriorating in Al-Rukban camp in the Syria-Jordan- Iraq border triangle, as well as lack of basic essentials, services and job opportunities, workless young men started to leave the camp. According to SOHR sources, nearly 950 young men left Al-Rukban camp in the past few months, heading to regime-controlled areas with the aim to join Iranian-backed militias working in the Syrian desert. In addition, a large number of these young men have gone missing, while sources suggested that they have joined ISIS which is active and numerous throughout the Syrian desert.

 

It is worth noting that these young men have left the camp with the help of smugglers, looking forward to better living situations away from the camp which is located near a base of the International Coalition which “fight terrorist groups, including ISIS and Iranian-backed militias.”

 

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the camp see that the International Coalition in the 55-kilometre zone, the holder of power in that region, has to provide needed services and secure job opportunities to them, so that the camp’s inhabitants will not risk their safety and lives by joining “terrorist organisations and militias”.

 

We, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), appeal to the international community to interfere immediately to save 11,000 Syrian civilians besieged by Russian and regime forces in Al-Rukban camp and to find workable and lasting solutions to prevent young men, who are struggling with the lack of basic essentials in the camp, from joining Iranian-backed militias and ISIS.