Syrian Government Acknowledges Widespread Escapes from ISIS-Linked al Hol Camp
A Syrian government official has exclusively revealed to Sky News that the notorious al Hol detention camp in northeastern Syria is now largely emptied of residents. This startling admission comes after the camp was seized from Kurdish-led forces last month, with escapes continuing unabated under state control.
Camp Emptied Through Varied Smuggling Routes
Fadi al Qassem, the Syrian foreign ministry's representative for al Hol camp administration, stated that families escaped while authorities were present because the camp is extensive and smuggling routes are highly varied. He explained that when Syrian forces arrived, the camp was already significantly depleted, with guards absent and gates wide open, making it challenging to prevent further departures.
The camp had housed tens of thousands of women and children linked to suspected ISIS fighters, alongside Syrians and Iraqis displaced by the ongoing conflict. Previously managed by Kurdish-led authorities, Damascus assumed control in January as part of its expanding territorial influence in the region.
Unreliable Records and Forged Documentation
Mr al Qassem detailed that the government inherited unreliable population records and long-established smuggling networks, complicating efforts to determine who was present during the takeover. Officials discovered evidence of forged documentation, with families using multiple registration cards belonging to individuals who had already left illegally.
Authorities are now attempting to trace those who departed outside official channels, utilizing records from international partners including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The UNHCR reported on Sunday observing a significant decrease in resident numbers at al Hol in recent weeks.
Camp Deemed No Longer Viable
The Syrian government has concluded that al Hol camp is no longer viable and will not be restored, citing extensive damage and prohibitive rehabilitation costs. Instead, plans are underway to fully empty the camp and transfer remaining families to new sites in Akhtarin and Jarabulus in northern Aleppo province, near the Turkish border.
Container units and concrete shelters are already in place at these locations. Most of those being relocated are women and children, with rehabilitation and social integration programs planned for their support.
Security Concerns Raised by Former Camp Staff
Former Kurdish staff members who worked at al Hol have expressed serious security concerns regarding the rapid emptying of the camp. Jihan Hanan, who managed the camp for four years until last month's takeover, highlighted the alarming lack of clear tracking for those who have left.
"When I saw videos showing large parts of al Hol empty, I was alarmed," she said. Her last official figures from 19 January placed the camp's population at approximately 23,000 people.
Ms Hanan added that a circulating online video shows a former resident threatening her by name from inside her vandalized former office, vowing to track her down and warning others who worked at the camp. "This has created real fear for me and my children," she stated. "This is the language they used against us all the time. It's the language of extremists."
Many former residents blamed camp staff for their detention, and over 1,000 civilian and humanitarian workers who operated al Hol over the years now fear potential reprisals.
International Coordination for Relocation
The first relocation convoy departed earlier this week in coordination with Syria's emergency ministry and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, involving 10 buses and 35 trucks. Further transfers are planned as the government works with UNHCR, whose representative Gonzalo Vargas Llosa confirmed local authorities have requested support to assist people in the new camps, which the agency is prepared to provide.
