Al-Hawl camp crisis | SOHR renews call to evacuate Syrian families from Al-Hawl camp and rehabilitate them after the conclusion of second phase of the security operation
SOHR renews its appeal to the international community to find an immediate and lasting solution for Al-Hawl camp's crisis and urges putting a serious plan for rehabilitating the camp’s children and women
The Internal Security Forces “Asayish” completed the second phase of Operation Humanitarian and Security in Al-Hawl camp, south-east of Al-Hasakah, which started on August 25 with the support of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition forces, with the aim of pursuing and eliminating ISIS cells in Al-Hawl camp.
The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) released a final statement regarding the completion of the second phase of Operation Humanity and Security in Al-Hawl camp that lasted for 24 days.
According to a statement obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which states:
“The operation was launched following the increasing crimes of killing and torture committed by ISIS cells against the camp residents who refused to join or support the terrorism of ISIS, so the terrorist cells sentenced them to death, spread terror and intimidation among them, forcing them to choose between joining ISIS cells or be brutally tortured to death. These crimes amount to crimes against humanity and have claimed, only this year, the lives of 44 camp residents and humanitarian workers. ISIS cells, especially women, cast many camp women and their children as apostates, putting them on the execution list, pressuring and extorting them, and forcing them to pledge allegiance to ISIS or be forcibly evicted from their camp, leaving them homeless.”
“We announce the end of the second phase of Operation Humanity & Security in the al-Hol camp, and our forces will continue to hunt down the potential cells, confronting dangers by conducting regular security operations when necessary.
The following is the outcome of the ISIS arrestees and their weapons confiscated inside the camp:
• The arrestees: 226 arrestees, including 36 extremist women involved in murder and terrorism offences.
• 25 tunnels and trenches were uncovered.
• Several types of weapons, including pistols, bombs, cold weapons, telecommunications equipment and military clothing were confiscated.”
Since early 2022, SOHR documented 28 murders in Al-Hawl camp, which left 30 people dead:
• Eight Iraqi refugees, including two women.
• 12 Syrian people, including eight women.
• Eight unidentified women.
• A medic was killed in the post where he worked in the camp.
• An unidentified man.
With the end of the second phase of Asayish operation, we, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), renew our appeal to the international community to find a lasting solution to “Al-Hawl mini-state” crisis, which is considered a clear and present danger to everyone. We also urge international human rights organisations to put an immediate and serious plan for rehabilitating women and children in the camp, who were saturated with ISIS ideology, especially with a large number of children and the widespread presence of the group cells in the camp that continue to impart their poisonous ideas to the residents of the camp, particularly women and children.
We would like to bring to mind the fact that these children are living with some extremist and hard-liner mothers and women, so we stress the importance to repatriate foreign citizens from Al-Hawl camp and call upon all relevant authorities not to abandon their responsibilities.