Child killed in al-Hol after attack on camp guards: SOHR 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A ten-year-old child was killed on Monday after unknown attackers attempted to kidnap two guards from northeast Syria’s al-Hol camp, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) war monitor reported on Tuesday.

The guards had been called to extinguish a fire in the section of the camp housing foreigners.

“The guards opened fire on the attackers, which resulted in the death of a ten-year-old child and injury of six women, some seriously,” SOHR said.

Associated Press reported that a “Kurdish official confirmed there was an attempt to kidnap female guards but had no immediate word on casualties.”

The British charity Save the Children confirmed the news on Monday.

STATEMENT: Reports that at least one child has been killed in a shooting incident in Al Hol’s Annex #Syria are ‘a stark reminder of the dangers that children face every day in the camp. Al Hol is no place for children’.

— Save the Children Global Media (@Save_GlobalNews) February 7, 2022

“Save the Children is appalled at the news that at least one child has been killed and others injured after security forces opened fire in Al Hol’s Annex,” Sonia Khush, Director of Save the Children’s Syria Response Office, said in a public statement. “This latest incident is a stark reminder of the dangers that children face every day in the camp. Al-Hol is no place for children.”

“Their governments need to take them and their families home to safety immediately,” she added. “Save the Children has already warned that failing to repatriate children risks leaving blood on their hands. How many more deaths do we need to see before they listen?”

There are about 56,000 residents in al-Hol, more than half of whom are under 18. The majority of al-Hol's residents are Iraqis and Syrians. However, many foreign residents also live there, many of whom are believed to have ISIS links.

Moreover, there were over 700 children in al-Sina'a prison in Hasakah city.

The prison was attacked by ISIS on Jan. 20 and fully recaptured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Jan. 30. During the fighting, ISIS used the 700 children who reside in a designated minors' ward for rehabilitation as human shields.

UNICEF visited the prison on Feb. 5 and called for the release of the children of ISIS families in detention.

Read More: UNICEF visits children detained in Hasakah prison

The local authorities have attempted to reduce pressure on the displacement camps in northeast Syria by repatriating Iraqis and allowing displaced Syrians to return home. They have also called on foreign countries to repatriate their citizens.

According to the SOHR, at least four people were killed by unknown militants in al-Hol camp in January this year.