Years after the collapse of ISIS’s territorial control in Syria, tens of thousands of individuals—including large numbers of women and children—remain held in camps and detention facilities in the country’s northeast. These detentions, led by the Kurdish territory with backing from the U.S.-led coalition, often occur without formal charges or access to legal processes. Many detainees are held indefinitely, and some were previously victims of crimes committed by ISIS such as human trafficking and sexual abuse.
The situation worsened in early 2025 when the U.S. government abruptly cut humanitarian funding, creating a ripple effect of service breakdowns. The sudden withdrawal of financial support to organizations like Blumont left critical operations in camps like Al Hol in disarray. Basic services including health care, food distribution, and emergency response were disrupted overnight. A planned repatriation of 600 Iraqi nationals was almost canceled due to the disappearance of staff and lack of access to essential databases.
While some aid was eventually reinstated, the damage was already done. Health centers closed, ambulance availability dropped, and youth-focused rehabilitation programs were suspended. The uncertainty also weakened long-term planning and led to the loss of trained staff across humanitarian coordination networks. In the vacuum left by reduced services, camp residents expressed growing desperation, and humanitarian workers reported a rise in extremist recruitment efforts.
Following recent political shifts—including the fall of the Assad regime and an increase in UN involvement—there has been renewed effort to resolve the crisis. Kurdish territory, in coordination with the United Nations, has begun planning the return of Iraqi and Syrian nationals. Iraq alone repatriated over 5,600 individuals by March 2025. The voluntary return of Syrians to their home regions is also underway, though many face uncertain futures. Transferring detainees to other detention sites, such as Al Jedah in Iraq, has raised serious concerns about ongoing human rights violations.
Despite some progress, thousands of foreign nationals remain stranded. Their home countries have often refused repatriation, leaving these individuals in indefinite limbo. Many have never been charged with a crime and deserve a fair trial.
Right Defenders Initiative strongly opposes the ongoing use of mass detention in northeast Syria. This system violates international law and prolongs the suffering of innocent people, especially women and children. We call for an immediate end to arbitrary detention, urgent international cooperation on safe and dignified repatriation, and the development of just legal processes for those suspected of serious crimes. Human dignity, not political convenience, must guide the response from all actors involved.
