Arabic version: تخطيط لإغلاق مخيم روج مع نقل الإدارة من قبل القوات الكردية

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are preparing to close Al-Roj camp, which houses families of detainees linked to the Islamic State group (IS). Sheikhmous Ahmed, an official overseeing refugee and displacement camps in northeastern Syria, announced that a joint decision has been made with the SDF to empty the camp soon. According to Middle East Eye, Ahmed mentioned that coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is underway for the transfer of those in the camp.

Currently, Al-Roj camp holds 756 families, including 730 from around 42 countries. While the SDF plans to return Syrian families to their original areas at the request of the Hasakah governor and their relatives, no exact date has been established for the transfer of the camp’s administration to Syrian authorities. A Syrian government official noted that the timeline for this transition remains unclear.

This announcement follows recent developments in northeastern Syria, where Syrian government forces regained control over significant areas from the SDF after weeks of conflict. A ceasefire reached on 30 January included provisions for the handover of detention camps to Syrian authorities. The situation in Al-Roj has been marked by reports of mistreatment of women and children during the chaotic handover process, raising concerns about the conditions within the camp.

In a related development, the Syrian government recently announced the closure of Al-Hol camp, which previously housed 6,200 foreign nationals. Fadi al-Qassem, the official managing Al-Hol’s affairs, confirmed that all families, both Syrian and non-Syrian, have been relocated. The detainees at these camps, including those linked to IS, have faced years of legal uncertainty without due process, prompting human rights groups to call for their repatriation and fair trials in their home countries.