SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hasakah- On November 6, 2024, the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), the People's Defense Units (YPG), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Internal Security Forces launched a large-scale operation called “Permanent Security” against ISIS in and around al-Hol camp, northeast Syria.

The camp, located approximately 13 kilometers from the Iraqi border in Hasakah, was originally established for Iraqi refugees in 1991. In 2003, It was reopened after the U.S. invasion of Iraq as one of three camps at the Iraqi-Syrian border. In 2013, the camp was closed down again. In 2016, the camp was reopened in 2016 when anti-ISIS operations began in Iraq, sending thousands of Iraqi civilians across the border into Syria in search of safety.

The camp hosts about 39,899 people, including 17, 410 Iraqi refugees. In the camp, there are also ISIS members from 42 countries, 90% of them are women and children. Iraqi refugees living in the camp want to return to their country.

Since 2021, the administration of the camp has worked coordinately with the Iraqi government and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to ensure the return of Iraqi refugees to their country. The Iraqi refugees are first transferred to a camp in Mosul and then to their homeland.

‘We want to return to Iraq’

Mûna Xelîl Îbrahîm is an Iraq woman living in al-Hol camp. “When ISIS attacked our city, Fallujah, we went to the Syrian border. We looked for a safe place for our children. Then, we settled in al-Hol camp. Now, we want to return to Iraq due to the atrocity of ISIS members in the camp.”

‘Women and children are the victims of this war’

Mûna Xelîl Îbrahîm called on the Iraqi government to hear their voices now. “All Iraqi women living in the camp want to return to Iraq. Women and children are the victims of this war.”

‘We demand an urgent solution’

Henan Şihade Hemad, an Iraqi refugee from the town of Henan Şihade Hemad, lived with her parents and children in the camp. “My parents returned to Iraq. I stay in the camp with my children. We spend our days and nights in fear. The families of ISIS take our freedom from us, using us like a toy.”

“We have been living in the camp for seven years,” said Cemîla Feyad Hemed, a refugee from Iraq’s Anbar province. “We left our homeland due to ISIS attacks. We have no safety in the camp due to ISIS families. I want to return to our country and work as a farmer there. We demand an urgent solution.”