Syrian Camp at Jordan-Iraq Border Officially Closed After Years of Siege 

DARAMSUQ— The Syrian government announced on Saturday the closure of the Rukban displacement camp—once home to nearly 90,000 people—located in the remote desert at the intersection of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. The move follows years of severe hardship, restricted access, and international neglect. 

According to Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa, writing on X, the dismantling of the camp “marks the end of a tragic and sorrowful chapter of displacement stories created by the bygone regime’s war machine.” He lamented that Rukban had become “not just a camp, but a triangle of death,” subjected to siege and starvation under the previous government. 

📌بتفكيك #مخيم_الركبان وعودة النازحين، يُطوى فصل مأساوي وحزين من قصص النزوح التي صنعتها آلة الحرب للنظام البائد.
📌لم يكن الركبان مجرد مخيم، بل كان مثلث الموت الذي شهد على قسوة الحصار والتجويع، حيث ترك النظام الناس لمواجهة مصيرهم المؤلم في الصحراء القاحلة.

📌ومع كل خطوة نحو… pic.twitter.com/yzVb3hHKLo

— Hamzah Almustafa (@HmzhMo) June 7, 2025

Established in mid2015 as a haven for Syrians fleeing the worst violence of the civil war, Rukban quickly swelled to around 90,000 residents by 2016, according to aid groups. Libya’s fall into chaos redirected global attention but did little to alleviate Rukban’s humanitarian crisis. 

Conditions were dire. Jordan closed its border in 2016 following a bombing that killed Jordanian soldiers, while the Syrian regime imposed restrictions on aid into the camp. Families were left dependent on expensive smuggled food and limited medical care. U.S. forces stationed nearby occasionally delivered humanitarian aid, but only after prolonged logistical negotiations. 

By early 2025, following the collapse of the Assad government, most residents left. Aid organizations, including Islamic Relief USA, coordinated transport for hundreds of remaining families. Around 25 families—mostly livestock herders—remained until recently, living in makeshift shelters without reliable access to services. 

One recent returnee, Yasmine alSaleh, who spent nine years in Rukban, spoke with the Associated Press. Despite returning to a heavily damaged home in alQaryatayn, she described it as “a castle in my eyes,” compared with the camp’s harsh conditions. 

The Syrian Emergency Task Force, a Washingtonbased NGO, confirmed that the camp is now “officially closed and empty,” calling its closure “an end to one of Syria’s worst humanitarian crises.”

However, the journey home remains fraught. The International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 1.87 million Syrians have returned to their places of origin since December 2024—but many face destroyed homes, unemployment, and lack of services. 

A returnee named Bakir alNajim said: “After 10 years of displacement, we will celebrate Eid alAdha back in our hometown,” but noted that they remain “poor,” lacking jobs and basic goods. 

The closure of Rukban also raises questions about other besieged camps in Syria. Raed alSaleh, Syria’s Minister for Emergency Situations and Disasters, expressed hope that Rukban’s end would herald a “path that ends the suffering in other camps and returns their residents to their homes with dignity and safety.” 

Meanwhile, some analysts warn that without sustained international support—including rebuilding infrastructure, schools, health services, and economic livelihoods—the displaced population remains vulnerable to further displacement.