Official warns of crisis in NE Syria Hawl Camp after U.S. aid cut
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – A camp official at Hawl Camp in northeastern Syria warned on Monday that conditions inside the camp, home to thousands of families of Islamic State (ISIS) militants, are deteriorating sharply following the suspension of U.S. aid.
Jihan Hanan, co-chair of the Hawl camp, told North Press that the situation could become “catastrophic” if support is not resumed, adding, “We are developing plans in case aid is not reinstated.”
At the start of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cessation of assistance provided by the State Department via non-governmental organizations collaborating with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This policy change has directly impacted the delivery of essential services in the camp.
She emphasized that the suspension has had a significant impact because most basic services in the camp are delivered by the U.S. State Department. Given that Hawl is a closed camp where residents cannot leave to secure necessities, this cut in aid poses a severe challenge.
Hanan noted that a 15-day exemption has been secured with humanitarian partners to maintain support temporarily. “However, beyond that period, the future remains uncertain. We remain hopeful that support for our humanitarian partners will be restored,” she added.
She further stressed that the burden of sustaining the camp should not rest solely on the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
“The burden of Hawl camp cannot fall solely on the AANES. The camp is a concern for all nations, and citizens from every country are here, so they have a stake in supporting them. While the AANES is doing everything it can, the burden is enormous,” Hanan said.
Additionally, Hanan warned that the interruption of support could pose a significant security threat to the camp, urging all concerned nations to provide humanitarian assistance until the camp is eventually vacated.