Tribal leaders call on Syrian Democratic Forces to intervene and improve security in Al-Hol Refugee Camp in North and East Syria

AL-HOL, Syria — With violent incidents at Al-Hol Refugee Camp reaching an uncontrolled level, sheikhs and elders of the tribes in Al-Hol area called on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) of North and East Syria to intervene and impose stricter security measures in the camp and the surrounding areas.

According to Hawar News Agency, the tribal leaders pledged to launch large-scale combing operations in the camp to eliminate the cells of the Islamic State (ISIS) in and outside the camp, as well as alleviate the fears of the displaced people and the residents in the area.

“ISIS is regrouping, which poses a great danger to the people of North and East Syria and the neighboring countries,” the agency stated, quoting the tribal sheikhs.

A tribal sheikh expressed their concerns due to the almost daily killings and burning of tents in the camp, in addition to some families fleeing towards Al-Hol desert and the countryside.

The resource strapped Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) that governs the region has repeatedly called on international governments to repatriate their citizens from the camps, or at the very least fund improvements to the camp and its security.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) has stressed the need to return the nearly 62,000 foreigners, mostly women and children, to their countries of origin.

The President of ICRC, Peter Maurer, recently visited the camp and observed that the children, many of them orphans or separated from their parents, are growing up in dangerous conditions in the camp.

He called on governments to put an end to this ongoing tragedy and repatriate their citizens.