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01

Featured

Children in Crisis and Emergency Situations: Balancing Child Protection and Security Concerns in the Al-Hol

Event Type

Technical Session

Format

Online

Year

2023

Speakers

Dr. Elie Abouaoun, Country Director Libya, International Rescue Committee

Zuhrab Saadi, Director, DAN for Relief and Development


Moderator

Cecilia Polizzi, Founding President/CEO, Next Wave

02

Description

The ongoing Syrian civil war has caused a severe displacement crisis, with northeastern Syria facing unique challenges. The region, particularly the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, is home to diverse populations, including Syrians, Iraqis, and foreign nationals. The defeat of ISIS in Baghouz contributed to the rapid growth of the al-Hol camp, which saw an influx of 64,000 women and children with perceived or actual ties to the Islamic State. This change transformed the camp from a refugee settlement to a de facto detention facility. As a result, security and living conditions within al-Hol have become increasingly unsustainable, with many residents continuing to propagate ISIS ideologies. As of June 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that al-Hol’s population stood at 48,864, with 64% being children, and Roj’s population at 2,500, with 65% of them being children. A large proportion of these children are under the age of twelve, and many face dire living conditions, extreme violence, exploitation, and heightened risks of radicalization. This technical session with Dr. Elie Abouaoun, Country Director for Libya at the International Rescue Committee, and Mr. Zuhrab Saadi, Director of DAN for Relief and Development, explored the humanitarian and security challenges within al-Hol and Roj camps. The session specifically focused on the vulnerabilities and protection needs of children, the risks of recruitment and radicalization by the Islamic State, and the difficulties in facilitating their return to home communities or countries of origin.

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