U.S. aid cuts hinder Iraq’s repatriation efforts from Syria’s Hawl Camp
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassem al-Araji stated on Wednesday that the reduction in U.S. international aid is obstructing the repatriation of Iraqi citizens from Hawl Camp in northeastern Syria.
In an interview with AFP, al-Araji expressed surprise at the sudden halt in funding for humanitarian organizations by the U.S., which had long been the primary supporter. This disruption, he noted, has significantly impacted the operations of aid organizations working in the camp.
On Jan. 20, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid provided by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for evaluation.
Al-Araji emphasized that Baghdad is actively working to relocate all remaining Iraqi nationals from Hawl Camp to a designated camp in northern Iraq.
On March 2, a senior official from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) warned that the Iraqi government’s decision to halt the repatriation of its citizens from Hawl and Roj camps places a heavy burden on local authorities and has significant negative consequences.
According to camp administration statistics, approximately 15,000 Iraqi refugees remain in Hawl camp.