Aid workers in Syria’s largest camp for displaced people face an unprecedented threat from extremists, a Kurdish official said on Sunday.
A 26-year-old medic died of a gunshot wound inflicted as he was “carrying out his humanitarian duties” in Al Hol camp, the Kurdish Red Crescent said on Wednesday.
He was attacked by members of ISIS who entered the camp using false identity documents, said the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.
Most residents of Al Hol fled areas controlled by ISIS or surrendered during the last days of the extremists’ self-declared “caliphate” in March 2019.
The refugee camp, in the north-eastern Hassakeh governorate, shelters about 56,000 displaced people and refugees, according to UN figures. They are from many countries, but most of them are minors.
The camp is controlled by the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration.
Since the fall of ISIS, Syrian Kurds and the UN have repeatedly urged foreign countries to repatriate citizens who travelled to Syria to join extremist groups. But this has occurred only sporadically, often for fear that those returning could launch terrorist attacks on home soil.
“The security situation in the camp is volatile and cells of IS are still present” in Al Hol, Chaykhamous Ahmed, an official with the Kurdish administration, told news agency AFP.
He said the latest killing set a “dangerous precedent” and that humanitarian and medical agencies would continue their work, “but not in the necessary way”.
The aid worker’s death is a reminder that the security situation in north-east Syria “remains unacceptable,” senior UN aid officials said on Wednesday.
They said essential aid can be delivered only “when steps are taken to address persistent safety issues”.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), one of the main agencies working in Al Hol, said in a statement that the killing of the aid worker was “a further demonstration of the violence and unsafe living conditions” of the camp.
“Long-term solutions must be found for the people living in Al Hol that respect their rights, and ensure the safety of camp residents and humanitarian workers alike,” MSF said.
In the past year, the Syrian Observatory has recorded 91 murders by ISIS in Al Hol, most of Iraqi refugees. It said two of the victims were aid workers.
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
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