ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) have foiled an overnight escape attempt by 18 women and children allegedly linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) at al-Hol camp, the camp’s director Jihan Hanan told Rudaw.
She said the group consisted of nationals from Russia and Turkmenistan.
Hol, located near Hasaka city, is notorious for overcrowding and poor living conditions, and has long been described as a breeding ground for extremist activity.
Sheikhmous Ahmed, the official overseeing Rojava’s camps for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), told Rudaw in late November that the camp’s population has fallen to 25,183 residents, including 14,920 Syrians, 3,988 Iraqis, and over 6,200 foreign nationals.
The camp once held around 60,000 people.
Kurdish authorities have repeatedly urged foreign governments to repatriate their citizens. Iraq, in particular, has been praised for its ongoing efforts to bring its nationals home.