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Al-Hol Refugee Camp in Syria Likened to “Open-Air Prison” for Children

HeadlineNov 09, 2022

In Syria, a new report by Doctors Without Borders is denouncing the horrific conditions faced by refugee children at the overcrowded Al-Hol camp, describing it as a massive open-air prison and a death camp. Al-Hol is located in the northeast, near the border with Iraq, and houses about 60,000 mostly women and children, many younger than 12 years old. Refugees at Al-Hol say violence has intensified between armed groups and security forces, and report arbitrary detention, theft and extortion, and rampant medical neglect. The report said some children
died from “prolonged delays in accessing urgent medical care.” Young boys at the camp are also reportedly being forcibly taken from their mothers once they reach around 11 years old, never to be seen again.

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