UN official urges repatriation of foreign nationals from camps in North and East Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In response to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) calling for the repatriation of foreign nationals from their camps, especially from Al-Hol, which hosts tens of thousands of people affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), Paulo Pinheiro, Chairman of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, addressed the issue during his speech at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Pinheiro emphasized that UN member states should assist in repatriating their nationals from these camps. He highlighted the dire situation, noting that there are 28,000 children in the camps of North and East Syria, and urged member states to make every effort to bring their nationals home and support DAARNES in this critical task.

He also noted that while Syrians are gradually returning to their communities and areas of origin despite numerous challenges, those returning from regions controlled by the Syrian regime face significant risks due to forced returns to those areas.