Hawl Camp: A Growing Humanitarian and Security Crisis in Northeast Syria
European Policy Organization
١٠ فبراير
5 دقائق قراءة
Berlin - Brussels / The Hawl Camp in Northeast Syria is more than just a refugee or displacement camp; it has become a symbol of the complex humanitarian and political challenges facing the region. Home to nearly 50,000 people, including many women and children from families affiliated with ISIS fighters, the camp remains a hotspot for multifaceted crises. However, humanitarian aspects alone are insufficient to understand the situation within the camp; the picture is much deeper. The lack of rehabilitation programs, halted international funding, and the complex security and political dimensions have made Hawl Camp not only a threat to the region but also to global security. In this article, we will analyze the international policies that have shaped the fate of the camp and their impact on regional and international security.
The Crisis of Missing Rehabilitation Programs: A Nightmare for Future Generations
The absence of rehabilitation programs, particularly for children in Hawl Camp, is one of the most dangerous challenges facing the international community in this context. Children raised amid violent conflict and linked to families involved in terrorist organizations are living in an environment filled with psychological and emotional trauma. In the absence of psychological and social interventions, it becomes increasingly difficult to mitigate the profound psychological and social impacts that may arise from such an environment.
United Nations reports and human rights organizations indicate that many children in the camp suffer from severe psychological disorders, such as anxiety and depression, due to the harsh conditions in which they have grown up. Children raised in such a distorted environment, filled with violence and extremism, are more susceptible to being drawn toward extremist ideologies in the future, increasing the risk of the vicious cycle of violence continuing in the region. This lack of support, which should be provided by specialized rehabilitation organizations, turns these children into a "time bomb" that threatens social and security stability in the future.
According to reliable sources within the camp's administration, there is a significant weakness and absence of programs aimed at rehabilitating the children and adolescents in the camp who have grown up in an environment of violence and extremism. The larger issue is that many of these children, who entered the camp years ago, are now over the age of eighteen, making the rehabilitation process even more difficult and complex. There is an urgent need to activate rehabilitation programs for these children, who make up the majority of the camp's population, and to ensure they are not left vulnerable to the extremist ideologies they were raised in.
Trump's Suspension of USAID Programs: Impact on Humanitarian Support
The decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend funding for several humanitarian programs run by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the region dealt a severe blow to international efforts to address humanitarian crises in camps like Hawl. This decision significantly contributed to the reduction of activities related to the rehabilitation of displaced families, as well as the provision of health, education, and even emergency relief. It also had a direct impact on other humanitarian organizations that were implementing these programs.
The suspension of funding led to fewer opportunities for providing the necessary support to women and children in the camp. Many educational centers that had been offering opportunities for children to learn basic skills were closed, while psychological support centers that had been providing therapy to children suffering from severe trauma were also halted. This policy not only increased humanitarian suffering but also complicated efforts to combat extremism, as there were no means to reintegrate these individuals back into society.
Although temporary exceptions allowed for the continued operation of some of these organizations and international agencies, there is still a significant risk that permanent funding for these groups and their programs will be cut, leaving the situation even more dire.
Releasing Families: An Incomplete Step in the Absence of Rehabilitation Programs
As part of regional and international policies, some countries, such as Iraq, have repatriated some of their nationals from the camp, including women and children. While this step was necessary to reduce overcrowding and pressure within the camp, it lacks a crucial element: rehabilitation programs. Releasing these individuals without providing them with a supportive environment in their home countries with rehabilitation programs could lead to increased tensions, both within these countries and at the regional level. Women and children who were part of families recruited by ISIS need psychological support, life skills training, and reintegration programs to help them successfully re-enter society.
Without these programs, the risk of them re-engaging with extremist networks becomes a real possibility, further fueling chaos and violence in their home countries. Therefore, any decision to release them must be contingent upon clear strategies for their rehabilitation.
Moreover, plans to repatriate Syrian families, including women and children, to their home regions are considered positive steps but lack follow-up through effective assistance and rehabilitation programs. These programs are crucial to ensure the successful reintegration of these families into society and prevent them from being drawn back into the cycle of extremism.
Regional and International Security Risks: A Ticking Time Bomb at Europe's Doorstep
The presence of thousands of ISIS-affiliated families in Hawl Camp, combined with the lack of effective rehabilitation programs, presents an ongoing threat to regional and international security. Hawl is not just a refugee gathering point; it has become a breeding ground for multiple extremist organizations, despite efforts by countries, including the Syrian Democratic Forces, to curb this phenomenon. Former fighters and their families still pose a threat to regional security, as they can form sleeper cells that cross borders in the region.
This problem is exacerbated in Europe, where many countries are hesitant to repatriate their nationals from the camps. European countries with large numbers of women and children in the camp are reluctant to take action, fearing that these individuals may pose a security threat due to their previous affiliations with extremist groups. However, delaying appropriate measures could lead to more severe long-term security consequences.
The Need for European and Foreign Countries to Repatriate Their Nationals: A Security and Humanitarian Responsibility
It is crucial for European and other foreign countries to repatriate their nationals—particularly women and children—currently in the camps. These countries must adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects: humanitarian, security, and social. They must develop programs to rehabilitate these individuals, especially children who are more susceptible to extremist ideologies.
At the same time, these countries must commit to enhancing cooperation with global humanitarian organizations to ensure support for these individuals during their reintegration into society. These steps will be vital to prevent the escalation of violence and extremism in the future. The responsible repatriation of their nationals must be aligned with long-term strategies to prevent extremist ideologies from infiltrating European societies.
Hawl Camp: The Need to Defuse the Time Bomb Before It's Too Late
Hawl Camp, originally intended as a displacement center, has evolved into one of the most significant political and security challenges in the world. The crisis unfolding in the camp requires an urgent response from the international community, including investment in rehabilitation programs for children and women, as well as psychological and educational support. The situation at the camp reflects a global failure to address this challenge comprehensively, threatening regional and global stability. If the situation remains unchanged, it will lead to a worsening of humanitarian and security crises in the future.
The release of families, the cessation of international funding, and the absence of effective rehabilitation programs only complicate the crisis. Therefore, the concerned countries must urgently take responsibility to secure a safe and stable environment for future generations, or else the region will face even greater risks, potentially leading to prolonged chaos.
Diplomatic and Economic Affairs Unit / Syrian FileEuropean Organization for Diplomatic and Economic Policy
Comments