The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Al-Hawl mini-state” in November 2022 | New murders by ISIS and Turkish military escalation creates chaos in the camp, encouraging families of ISIS members to escape

SOHR renews its appeal to the international community to find an immediate and lasting solution to Al-Hawl camp’s crisis and urges putting a serious plan for rehabilitating the camp’s children and women

The successive incidents at Al-Hawl camp in the far south-east region of Al-Hasakah are now unrefuted evidence of the chaos recently unleashed by the Islamic State in Syria. Al-Hawl refugee camp has become more like a “mini-state” hosting ISIS-affiliated members and families. This a true crisis that most countries of the world still ignore in order to avoid repatriating their unwelcome citizens who joined the notorious organisation. Chaos and lack of security are prevalent within the camp, turning it into a “ticking bomb” that cannot be ignored.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) tracked and monitored the key developments in the camp in November 2022.

 

SOHR activists have documented the first murder crime committed by ISIS members in Al-Hawl camp in three months, as two bodies were found with marks of stabs from a sharp tool in the camp’s sewer systems. According to SOHR sources, the bodies, who were found in the section of “Al-Muhajerat” (the migrant), were of two minor Egyptian girls who had gone missing.

 

Accordingly, the number of murder crimes documented in the camp since early 2022 has risen to 29, which left 32 people dead; and they are as follows:

 

  • 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.

 

  • Two Egyptian girls.

 

Meanwhile, in early November, the Department of Foreign Relations handed over 49 European people: 12 women and 37 children, who were held in camps in north-east Syria to officials of the governments of their countries. According to SOHR sources, a woman and four children were handed over to a German delegation, while 11 women and 33 children were handed over to a Dutch delegation, after an official document was signed between the European delegations and the Autonomous Administration.

 

On the other hand, Al-Hawl camp was affected by the latest Turkish military escalation on areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration, as a Turkish fighter jet executed two airstrikes, on November 23, on a position of the protection units in Al-Hawl camp, killing eight combatants guarding the camp and creating chaos which encouraged families of ISIS members to try to escape.

 

While on November 24, seven institutions providing medical services suspended their work in Al-Hawl camp in Al-Hasakah countryside, after Turkish drones attacked a protection centre in Al-Hawl camp, south east of Al-Hasakah. irc, Hi, Releif, Koba, Al-Yamama and the peace and child saving centre informed the administration of Al-Hawl camp that they would suspend their work over the absence of a safe working environment due to the military operations and Turkish attacks, while over institutions suspended their work without informing Al-Hawl camp’s administration.

 

Also, on November 25, SOHR activists reported security tension inside Al-Hawl camp following an attempt by ISIS families to wreak havoc in the camp, amid flight of Turkish drones over the area. According to reliable SOHR sources, some ISIS families were trying to start a riot inside the camp, taking advantage of the current situation.

 

On the same day, SOHR activists monitored gunfire inside Al-Hawl camp in far south-eastern region of Al-Hasakah countryside, after several women of “Al-Muhajerat” (the migrant) section attempted to escape from the camp, before SDF-backed protection units arrested them. According to reliable SOHR sources, nearly 12 women tried to escape from the camp, and they were chased by members of the camp’s guards. Meanwhile, clashes erupted between members of the camp’s guards and boys claiming that they are of the “Caliphate Cubs,” which resulted in the injury of two boys.

 

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.