Beirut, – An international, medical humanitarian organization: the Medecin Sans Frontiers (MSF) popularly called Dctors Without Borders, has denounced the catastrophic conditions in the notorious al-Hol refugee camp in northeast Syria.
In a lengthy report published on Monday, MSF criticised the lack of protection from violence, lawlessness and the humanitarian situations of the tens of thousands of former Islamic State supporters as well as their family members in the camp.
“We are between two fires: the security forces and the extremists. It’s a kind of prison.
“There is no freedom here,’’ the report quoted a resident of the camp as saying.
Many fear that both security and living conditions would continue to deteriorate and that they might be stuck in al-Hol forever.
According to UN figures, more than 50,000 people live in the camp, most of whom are women and children, including foreign nationals.
The aid organisation warned of the increasing influence of extremist groups inside the camp, and also criticised its mismanagement by the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who are in charge of the facility.
It added that parents and caregivers had expressed deep concerns for the well-being and psychosocial developments of their children.
The report said that this was on the basis of accounts from their patients, the residents of al-Hol and the testimonials of their staff.
People inside the camp lacked access to earning a livelihood and continue to be held in prison-like conditions with very limited access to basic services.
Kurds who control areas in north-east Syria have long called on the international community to find a solution and repatriate their foreign nationals who fought with an Islamic state.
“Islamic State is an international phenomenon, not a local one.
“Therefore, the efforts and sacrifices of the SDF to combat the organisation must meet solidarity, real international participation, and effective long-term support at the security, legal and political levels,’’ Farhad al-Shami said.
Al-Shami is the director of the SDF Media Centre. (dpa/NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts