NGO says 62 children die this year in Syria camp

Sixty two children died in 2021 from different causes in an overcrowded Syrian prison camp, for mostly Islamic State families, in North-East Syria.

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Save the Children Syria said on Thursday in their publication.

The NGO stated that sixty two children or approximately two every week have died of different causes in al-Hol camp so far this year.

It added that the cause of deaths varied from avoidable illness and deaths caused by fires, poor water and sanitation.

Other causes are malnutrition and a barely functioning health-care system.

The organisation said the al-Hol and Roj camps are home to over 60,000 people of which 40,000 are children.

According to the UN, thousands of former supporters of the Islamic State terrorist militia and their children including many German nationals live there.

Germany brought back three women and 12 children in December, but there are still many more Germans living in the camps.

“It is more urgent than ever that foreign governments with nationals in al-Hol and Roj many of whom fled their homes.

“Also to escape Islamic State take responsibility and bring children and their families home,” said the organisation.

The NGO accuses EU countries, Britain, Canada and Australia of a lack of political will in repatriating their citizens.

“Every day that foreign children and their families stay in the camps are another day they are failed by their governments.” (NAN)