NATO mission in Iraq stresses difficulty of repatriating nationals in Hawl Camp
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – NATO mission in Iraq emphasized on Monday the importance of returning nationals residing in Hawl Camp in northeastern Syria, while acknowledging the difficulty of achieving such a task.
Commander of the NATO Mission in Iraq, General Giovanni M. Iannucci, said in a press conference that the humanitarian and security situation in Syria constitutes a major challenge.
In his statement to the Iraqi News Agency, the mission commander praised the efforts made by the Iraqi government in repatriating its nationals from Hawl Camp.
In August 21, Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji announced an Iraqi-international plan to dismantle Hawl Camp, and return all Iraqi refugees from the camp. On the same day, al-Araji chaired a session of Iraqi and international working groups, concerned with implementing the international framework for the plan.
Iannucci said that several NATO states were contributing in repatriating those who reside in the camp to their countries to be tried or rehabilitated. However, this is not easy because of significant security and humanitarian challenges, the NATO commander said.
In August, an official at the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced said that Iraq has repatriated about 300 families from the camp since the beginning of 2022, and noted that procedures were underway to return another 200 families by the end of the year.
According to the latest statistics obtained by North Press, the camp houses 56.829 people, including 28.725 Iraqis, 18.850 Syrians. The wives and children of foreign dead and detainees of the Islamic State (ISIS) members, make up to 8.254 individuals.
The commander of the mission said that NATO is helping Iraq to build sustainable security forces and institutions capable of achieving stability, fighting terrorism, and preventing the return of ISIS.
Iannucci said that ISIS still pose a threat, stressing that their campaign would continue until they ensure the lasting defeat of the terrorist group.
On August 31, US Senior Representative to Northeast Syria Nikolas Granger said that they were putting extensive effort to repatriate foreign nationals in Hawl Camp, noting that a conference regarding this matter would be held soon.