Countries must repatriate their citizens because North and East Syria Administration lacks resources to adequately care for foreigners in camps, says official

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In a press conference, Co-Chair of the Office of Displaced People and Refugees in the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria Shemkhos Ahmed called on governments to repatriate their citizens currently being held in camps in North and East Syria. The DAA has housed tens of thousands of foreigners who travelled to Syria to live under the Islamic State for years and can no longer bear the costs of their presence, said Ahmed.

He also noted that the closure of the Yarubiya Border Crossing with Iraq has further worsened the conditions of the camps. Given the dire economic situation in Syria, and the de facto blockades by Turkey and the Syrian regime, the DAA is unable to provide those in the camps with adequate medical care. The spread of the coronavirus has only made the situation in North and East Syria worse, he added.

Despite the DAA’s repeated appeal to Arab and Western countries to repatriate their nationals, their response has been limited.

The situation in the camps for internally displaced Syrians is likewise difficult due to the almost complete lack of U.N. humanitarian assistance.