US diplomat says work underway to return nationals in Hawl Camp
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Nikolas Granger, US Senior Representative to Northeast Syria, said on Wednesday that they were putting extensive effort to repatriate foreign nationals in Hawl Camp, east of Hasakah Governorate, noting that a conference regarding this matter would be held soon.
This came during his visit to the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in Qamishli city.
His visit to the department came hours after another visit to the Hawl Camp to check the ongoing security operation in the camp.
On August 25, the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) announced launching Operation “Humanity and Security” in Hawl Camp to pursue sleeper cells of the Islamic State (ISIS). On Wednesday, the Asayish announced arresting 11 suspects of belonging to ISIS at the camp.
After received by Badran Chia Kurd, co-chair of the Department of Foreign Relations, the US representative said that they back stability in the region, calling on all parties to ease tension. He further added that they study plans aimed at increasing support for the region.
For his part, Badran Chia Kurd noted to Turkey’s almost daily human rights violations with its repeated drone strikes, “which have killed many civilians.” He also necessitated the issue of implementing the 2019 ceasefire agreement.
Following the Turkish incursion in October 2019, Turkey signed two ceasefire agreements, one with Russia and the other with the US stipulating ceasing all hostilities and the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) 32 km away from the Turkish border. The SDF did withdrew from the border areas according to the agreement, but Turkey continues targeting the area.
The co-chair urged more humanitarian and political support for the region to maintain its stability until the issue of ISIS militants and their families – who reside in the prisons and camps of north and east Syria – is completely addressed.
Chia Kurd believed that there is no clear policy regarding the issue of ISIS, “creating problems for the region every now and then.”
Hawl Camp, 45 km east of the city of Hasakah, is a house for 55.829 individuals, including 28.725 Iraqis, 18.850 Syrians and 8.254 of foreign nationalities, according to the latest statistics obtained by North Press.