Women and children remain trapped in Syria’s Roj camp
About 2,300 women and children from dozens of countries are being held at Syria's Roj camp, many with alleged links to ISIL. The Syrian government has expressed a desire to shut the facility, but officials have not announced any formal plans for the people detained there.
Why It Matters
The unresolved status of thousands of foreign women and children at Roj creates a legal and humanitarian gap: authorities want the camp closed but have not set out what will happen to those inside. How this situation is resolved will affect international responsibilities and the lives of those held.
Key Facts
- Location: Roj camp, Syria
- Number held: About 2,300 women and children
- National origins: From dozens of countries
- Affiliations: Many linked to ISIL
- Syrian government position: Wants to close the camp
Roj camp in Syria currently holds roughly 2,300 women and children who come from dozens of countries. Authorities and aid workers describe many of those detained as having ties to ISIL, and residents remain confined inside the facility. The Syrian government has said it wants the camp closed, but as yet there are no formal plans announced outlining the fate of the people housed there. That lack of a clear plan leaves the future status of those inside unresolved. The situation at Roj has drawn journalistic attention: Al Jazeera correspondent Bernard Smith filed an exclusive report from inside the camp. His reporting sheds light on the population and the uncertainty they face while official decisions remain pending.
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