In the northeast corner of Syria, the Al Hol refugee camp is three days away from crisis.
For years, tens of thousands have been stuck in the camp. Al Hol is a sea of tents amid the desert — one that houses the wives, children, and families of Islamic State fighters, along with thousands displaced by Syria’s decade-long war.
For years, organizations funded by USAID and the U.S. Department of State have been responsible for maintaining camps such as Al Hol — providing food, fuel, and essentials for the 40,000 detained there. And for years, experts have warned that if those organizations walk away, the camps will become a recruiting ground for terrorist organizations.
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About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
