France repatriates 47 nationals from camps in NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – France repatriated on Tuesday 47 of its nationals, including 15 women and 32 children, who were detained in the Roj camp for Islamic State (ISIS) family members, in far northeast Syria.
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France said, in a statement, that the children were handed over to services responsible for children care, where they will receive medical and social care.
This came following a meeting of representatives from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the French government that took place on Jan. 22, as the French delegation stressed that anti-terrorism support for the AANES should not be limited to the military aid, but include economic and humanitarian help as well.
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani, and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah, and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
Roj camp, the second dangerous camp after Hawl Camp, is run by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), it is a house for 806 families, including 2.800 individuals of Arabs and foreigners, mostly women and children of ISIS members who hail from 62 countries, according to previous a report published by North Press.
“The adults have been handed over to the competent judicial authorities,” according to the ministry’s statement.
In addition, the ministry thanked the AANES for its cooperation and for making such operations possible.
On Jan. 21, Committee Against Torture (CAT) said that France violates Convention against Torture by leaving its nationals in “war zones.”
The UN Committee considered that France, is “obliged” to protect them and by not repatriating them, it violates Articles 2 and 16 of the Convention against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment.