The dire situation in a prison camp in northern Syria has raised concerns for the safety of British mothers incarcerated there, according to a report by The Guardian. The revelations have intensified pressure on the UK government to repatriate the estimated 60 citizens, including 40 children, currently held in the Roj camp.
The Roj camp is home to Shamima Begum, a London-born woman who left the UK in 2015 at the age of 15 to join Daesh. Begum was subsequently stripped of her British citizenship. The UK and Australia are the only two Western nations that routinely oppose the repatriation of citizens detained in Syria.
While countries like France and the US have brought their citizens back from Syria and neighboring Iraq to face justice, the UK government has been reluctant to do so, citing concerns about destabilizing the region. However, a UN report published last year emphasized that countries have an “absolute obligation to protect the right to life of their nationals.”
Sources have revealed that the UK government is aware of the poor conditions in Roj, which include cases of child malnutrition and deaths caused by treatable illnesses and pollution from nearby oilfields. UK intelligence officers regularly visit Roj and the nearby Al-Hol camp, which together house nearly 60,000 people.
WhatsApp messages obtained by The Guardian highlight the adverse effects of a lack of access to medicine on detainees. One message described excruciating pain and the hope for government approval to return home. Another message mentioned the long-term impact of COVID-19 on lung health due to pollution from nearby oilfields.
The messages also shed light on the inadequate healthcare available in the camp. One woman recounted a dentist’s suggestion to remove her child’s tooth without anesthesia. Another message reported the death of a woman from an asthma attack, further highlighting the urgent need for proper medical care.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Roj. Katherine Cornett, who heads the unlawful detentions team at human rights charity Reprieve, emphasized that British detainees have been held in appalling conditions for years without being charged or tried for any crime. Cornett warned that it is only a matter of time before a British woman or child suffers the same fate as those who have already died due to a lack of access to hospital care.
The aid worker at Roj revealed the risks involved in communicating with families, as the Kurdish authorities frequently conduct raids and punish women severely if they are found with a phone. The camp is heavily surveilled, with limited movement allowed.
The UK government spokesperson stated that they have facilitated the repatriation of several British nationals from Syria and consider all requests for consular assistance on a case-by-case basis. The spokesperson emphasized that national security is a priority and that the government will continue to protect the UK from individuals who pose a threat while providing humanitarian support and monitoring the situation in Syria.
The alarming conditions in the Roj camp demand immediate action from the UK government. The lives of British citizens, including innocent children, are at risk due to the lack of access to healthcare and the deteriorating conditions in the camp. It is crucial for the UK government to fulfill its obligation to protect the rights and safety of its nationals and work towards repatriating them from Syria.