This urgent humanitarian and security situation threatens stability in the region and beyond, but the current political transition in Syria could offer an opportunity to intensify repatriation.
The question was the subject of A high -level international conference Organized by the Government of Iraq with the technical support of the United Nations counter-terrorism office (Inocidental), held Friday on the sidelines of the debate of the general assembly.
Mainly women and children
Currently, more than 30,000 people, including alleged foreign terrorist fighters and family members, are detained at the famous al-Hol camp and other surrounding sites.
Most are women and it is estimated that 60% of the global population of these facilities is less than 18 years, and mainly under 12 years of age.
Foreign nationals have some 8,500 people of more than 62 countries.
The Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres (2nd on the right) met repatriated from Syria to the Jeddah Rehabilitation Center, in Iraq, in March 2023.
Iraq opens the way
At its peak, EIL has checked large areas through Syria and Iraq, committing generalized atrocities, including mass executions, rape and forced recruitment, in its desire to establish an Islamist caliphate.
Many detainees are from these two countries, and Iraq has played a leading role in the repatriation of its nationals, with more than 17,000 returns by integrated security, legal and humanitarian operations.
“Our goal is to reintegrate them into their communities and their places of origin,” said President Abdul Latif Rashid.
“We cooperate with international organizations to achieve this goal. Our goal is to assure them a safe future and a worthy life in their country. ”
“Potential radicalization incubators”
Back in Syria, the conditions in the camps “are disastrous and very alarming,” said the UN UN UNDER-SECRETARY General for the fight against terrorism, Alexandre Zouev.
Residents “are not only” confronted with prolonged detention without legal and without regular procedure “, but” women and girls have known or risks sexual violence “while children lack essentials and access to formal education.
“With Daesh attacks and assorted humanitarian actors limiting services, The camps threaten to transform into incubators of terrorist radicalization and future recruitment“He warned.
‘Window’ for the action
The UN believes that the fall of the Assad regime in Syria last December and other developments in the country provided “a window for decisive action” on the issue.
“While the situation in northeast Syria becomes more complex with increasing volatility, Daesh attacks and limited humanitarian access, Member States now have new paths to engage directly with different stakeholders and advance solutions“Said Guy Ryder, an under-secretary general for politics.
“But this window can quickly shrink, and inaction would have serious consequences for regional stability and international peace and security.”
Syrian repatriated number
Mr. Ryder Spoke on Behalf of the Secretary-General Whose Special Severe Syria, Geir Pedersen, also Highlighted an Agreement signed in March Between the New Authorities in Damascus and the Kurdish-Led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the de facto authorities in the northeast.
He “underlined the need for complete integration of all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria in the administration of the Syrian state” and called to ensure “the return of all the Syrians displaced in their towns and villages and ensuring the protection of the Syrian state”.
Just repatriation “the first step”
UN officials stressed the organization’s commitment to support countries in their repatriation efforts, calling for an emergency and renewed momentum.
Iraq also proposed to share its expertise, President Rashid urging the international community to “turn the page on this inhuman chapter” and to empty the camps by the end of the year.
However, as Mr. Zouev pointed out, “repatriation is only the first stage of the long journey to break the cycle of violence”.
He explained that he “had to be supplemented by responsibility as well as by supporting rehabilitation and reintegration adapted to the various needs of the various repatriates”, and promoting confidence in the communities that receive them.
“In this regard, it is absolutely crucial not to lose sight of the imperative of justice for the victims and the survivors of terrorism,” he added.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
