UN urges repatriation of children of jihadists stranded in Syria
Children have fun in the mud in al-Hol camp in Syria in March 2019. AP - Maya Alleruzzo
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The head of the United Nations counterterrorism office believes that the fate of the children of fighters of the Islamic State organization in Syria, who now live in the al-Hol camp in the northeast of the country , is one of the most pressing issues to be addressed.
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Of the 62,000 people accommodated in al-Hol, the largest camp in northeastern Syria, more than 80% are women and children.
They came to find refuge there in 2019 after
the defeat of the Islamic State group
and the loss of the last jihadist strongholds.
For Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the United Nations in charge of the fight against terrorism, it is urgent to act to save these 27,000 children abandoned to their fate and vulnerable.
According to him, they must be repatriated urgently to their country of origin and reintegrated into their community.
It calls for the responsibility of the 60 States from which the children come.
If nothing is done, he says, these minors risk being radicalized
inside the camp
or being forcibly recruited by the jihadist group.
Russia and Kazakhstan, which took part in the virtual meeting of the United Nations, have already repatriated 1,000 children and their families.
Vladimir Voronkov cited them as an example to reassure countries about potential security dangers.
The fears are unfounded, he stressed, children should be treated first and foremost as victims and minors under 14 should not be detained or tried.
► See also: Syria: untenable humanitarian situation in al-Hol camp
An observation shared by Virginia Gamba, the United Nations special representative for children in times of conflict.
These children, she concludes, deserve a chance in their life, just like any other child.
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Syria
Terrorism
UN
Rights of the child