![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJWOHYH2D6I2RUX72GC5PDU5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab50058182384b04090a138856de0a43d2b8d1d620c47329c222a75e21830700&width=400&height=225)
Children play in a mud puddle at Al Hol camp. AP
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Al Hol camp in Al Hasakeh province, Syria, houses families of ISIS fighters. AP
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About 56,000 people, mostly women and children, live in crowded conditions in the camp. AFP
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Many of its residents have been there since ISIS was defeated in Syria in 2019. AFP
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About 10,000 people at Al Hol are non-Arab foreign citizens, with the rest mostly from Syria and Iraq. AFP
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The Al Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected ISIS group fighters. AFP
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UK charity Save the Children says 40,000 children from 60 countries live in dire conditions in Syria's Roj and Al Hol camps. AFP
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Families at Al Hol gather their belongings as they prepare to return home to Syria's northern Raqqa region. AFP
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Two children die at the camp every week, Save the Children has said. AFP
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There have been reports of women in the camp being detained and tortured by ISIS supporters. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJWOHYH2D6I2RUX72GC5PDU5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab50058182384b04090a138856de0a43d2b8d1d620c47329c222a75e21830700&width=400&height=225)
Children play in a mud puddle at Al Hol camp. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6I5CRYDURUNQF5WZ3UIIY4NSM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2785daa53f481bf4fc2feaf3c2c2a115a3586aceeedaed58ed81305063aacc74&width=400&height=225)
Al Hol camp in Al Hasakeh province, Syria, houses families of ISIS fighters. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3D4NRXCJG5J64RVWFD3ZBP2A2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=e976545c7c9d3427957081f2ef78a2a5e78c027990212f34291df4e01bafe392&width=400&height=225)
About 56,000 people, mostly women and children, live in crowded conditions in the camp. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H667VUBGYZIZOXE6MFPDESV43U.jpg?smart=true&auth=4fdbf503afa7f9234b15efec44d85c60aa292e5fa0aebe863631077c92e9d78f&width=400&height=225)
Many of its residents have been there since ISIS was defeated in Syria in 2019. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HBCXZUXZHGDJIVRYUZ6M4JDRK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2405011d4e0cec2a5f828ec926614636affdda14b050370ba92cc806828a99c7&width=400&height=225)
About 10,000 people at Al Hol are non-Arab foreign citizens, with the rest mostly from Syria and Iraq. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/E7PJMPYPOAPHZTG4XDU55VYOIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=599c1ce4b0711ccc92f3c74c22db4080d25276b136de11ba18d7853927d9d507&width=400&height=225)
The Al Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected ISIS group fighters. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WNPMDELL4J7Q3OWAZQTL4EQBPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa45ffad6d771619ae73e2482408153cdf30829de47a18202946acd661ed6824&width=400&height=225)
UK charity Save the Children says 40,000 children from 60 countries live in dire conditions in Syria's Roj and Al Hol camps. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BGHRFOQ7DXSJRY2GTR7RLWCMBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=5581351b55e18e29c6803748b2955813e17f1a41920d49bade296af16a22c1bc&width=400&height=225)
Families at Al Hol gather their belongings as they prepare to return home to Syria's northern Raqqa region. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHTECWFY6D64Q6JTNGW4MOWKYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=adb5cc8220e7a1506f71d650036f2657eab84459d48fdbad9119040aea823ab0&width=400&height=225)
Two children die at the camp every week, Save the Children has said. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63ROXKOUHVA5GE6PHQNBTP7XA4.jpg?smart=true&auth=76dc8cb39348a7c7ab2b9ea42ea1f6c6fb166ecff4a42e19dea4ac9a66b4a664&width=400&height=225)
There have been reports of women in the camp being detained and tortured by ISIS supporters. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BJWOHYH2D6I2RUX72GC5PDU5XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab50058182384b04090a138856de0a43d2b8d1d620c47329c222a75e21830700&width=400&height=225)
Children play in a mud puddle at Al Hol camp. AP
US general says Al Hol refugee camp in Syria must be handled with empathy
Gen Michael Kurilla says half of camp's residents are 'ISIS adherents'
![Khaled Yacoub Oweis](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fefa30c75-d27a-4056-a69c-9ac584809392.png?smart=true&auth=647845e021f788d3879777eb8e3abe275d6ff95e85adb6d307aa809b8e9b3bff&width=70&height=70)
Khaled Yacoub Oweis
12 September, 2022
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