The Al-Hol detention camp in northeastern Syria, once a refuge for many foreign nationals, is now nearly empty. As reported by humanitarian sources to AFP, only 20 foreign families are left in the camp, with Finnish foreign ministerial official Jussi Tanner confirming that a small number of Finnish nationals were among those housed there. Tanner stated that most of these Finns were children, emphasizing the gravity of their situation.

Notably, while the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the exact number of Finns who were at the camp, they have chosen not to disclose it publicly. The Ministry has indicated that those who were in the camp have dispersed in various directions since last Saturday. Tanner lacks vital information regarding the health and status of these Finnish individuals, which raises concerns about their wellbeing amidst ongoing conflict in Syria.

Historically, Finland has seen several dozen citizens travel to Syria during the ongoing civil war to fight alongside Islamist groups, including many men and a smaller number of women. The establishment of the Al-Hol camp was a direct result of the actions of the ISIS organization and its campaign to establish a 'caliphate,' which highlights the broader implications of international responses to terrorism and the complexities surrounding the repatriation of citizens involved in foreign conflicts.