BACKGROUND

1.1 CONTEXT

Currently, around 28,000 Iraqi nationals reside in Al Hol Camp which is a complex of tents located in North-East Syria (NES). The camp is home to Iraqis who travelled to Syria prior to 2014, those who fled when the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took over their area of origin, those who crossed the border during the military campaign to dislodge ISIL from Iraqi territory, and others who arrived after remaining strongholds in Syria were recaptured.
Early around 2021, the Government of Iraq has resumed the facilitation of the voluntary returns of Iraqis after the process has been temporarily put on hold in 2018/2019. Accordingly, there have been 6 batches of new arrivals to the Jeddah 1 (J1) Center from NES since May 2021; the most recent one taking place on 12 August 2022 where a total of 155 families and 622 individuals were registered at the center.