Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on countries Friday to urgently repatriate their nationals from Syrian detainment camps, where thousands remain trapped in life-threatening conditions. The organization urged governments to fulfil their international legal obligations by prosecuting those responsible for crimes and supporting reintegration efforts. It also criticized the US government’s recent suspension of foreign aid to non-governmental organizations operating in these camps.

The security situation in northeast Syria has deteriorated since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, with renewed hostilities between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) in March 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) detained thousands of individuals suspected of ISIS affiliation, along with their family members.

These detainees are primarily housed in two camps: al-Hol and Roj in northeast Syria, administered by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). They hold approximately 42,500 people, primarily women and children. Detainees face acute shortages of clean water, food, medicine, and adequate shelter. Reports indicate exposure to violence, exploitation, abuse, and deprivation, with conditions that may amount to torture or degrading treatment under international law.

HRW urged governments to act swiftly, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2396, which stresses the need for rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals associated with terrorist organizations. Hiba Zayadin, a senior researcher at HRW, emphasized that the international community has a responsibility to act before more lives are lost due to neglect and inaction.