HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Like other elderly people in Hawl Camp in northeastern Syria, Hamad al-Manfi avoids mentioning the word “ISIS” [the Islamic State] or speaking about the crimes committed in the camp after violence reached an unprecedented level.
Al-Manfi, an Iraqi refugee in the Hawl Camp came from Saladin Governorate six years ago fleeing the war launched by ISIS, said, “There is nobody in the camp who does not live in fear. All of us fear.”
Since January 2022, the camp which is dubbed as one of the most dangerous in the world, witnessed 13 abductions and 44 murders, including 14 women and two children, according to data given by the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish).
On August 25, the second phase of “Humanity and Security Campaign” was announced by the Asayish to pursue ISIS sleeper cells.
The first phase of the campaign was launched in 2021 in response to calls of community and tribal leaders in Hawl countryside to reduce crimes at the camp.
Close to his tent while armored vehicles and military cars of the Asayish pass conducting sweeping and inspecting operations in the nearby phases, the Iraqi refugee said that preserving security in the camp is their utmost demand.
“We fled our country fearing death, had our country been stable, we would not have been displaced. We face death anew here,” he added.
In March, a security source told North Press that they had received intelligence information signifying preparations was made by ISIS sleeper cells to control the Hawl Camp proper.
Turkey backs ISIS
More than 2.000 members of Asayish and Special Units of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) supported by the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS are participating in the security, sweeping and inspection operation in the camp, a security source told North Press.
In a large square at the outskirts of the camp, residents of the camp are rounded up to subject to screening to verify their identities.
Coins related to ISIS were found in a tent during inspection and sweeping operations, according to North Press correspondent.
From the camp, Nouri Mahmoud, spokesperson for Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), the backbone of the SDF said they deemed necessary the second phase of the security operation be launched after information received signified that ISIS was preparing to launch an attack on the camp.
“ISIS tries to reorganize itself, where Turkey, through its threats to carry out a mass operation in the region, contributed in reviving the group after it was on the verge of collapse,” Mahmoud told North Press.
After the recent Turkish threats against northeast Syria, “Turkey took occupied areas (Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad) as a base to launch attacks on the region, and to support and sponsor the sleeper cells in the region,” Mahmoud added.
“The attack on the Sinaa’ prison is a hard proof to such schemes by Turkey in the region,” he noted.
The YPG spokesperson affirmed that “ISIS receives support from the backward fronts where the group has presence such as the Syrian Desert extending from Deir ez-Zor and Suwayda and areas under the control of Turkish forces in northeast Syria.”
Mahmoud does not deny that destroying the group and setting up a strong security system in the camp make a heavy burden on them, “The international community does not move according to international charters as it shyly approaches the camp.”
Living in fear
According to separate statements made by the Asayish, nearly 98 people affiliated with ISIS have been arrested since the start of the campaign up to day six and tens have been detained on suspicion of connection to the group, in addition to discovering a lot of trenches.
More than 96 tents used by ISIS cells as legal courts and places of torture and murder in addition to sharia courses, were dismantled.
Crimes committed in the camp caused psychological disturbances to the residents of the camp in general and to Iraqi refugees who make up the majority in the camp in particular. Iraqis are the most targeted in the camp as the government of their country mulls to repatriate them.
An Iraqi female refugee said on condition of anonymity that she lives in fear, horror and discomfort since she arrived in the camp years ago. “If I had the chance to go to Iraq on feet I would have gone due to the tragedy we live in.”
“We live in fear, we have no savior, we are obliged to live here,” she said.
Like thousands of others, she expressed desire to return home as violence goes in the camp unabated.
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.