Humanitarians have long warned that the camps in northeast Syria, which host tens of thousands of family members of suspected Islamic State fighters, represent a critical issue that cannot be overlooked. Recognized as a "ticking time bomb" by relief organizations, the situation in these camps poses a significant risk if the women and children left behind are not repatriated to their home countries. Since 2019, approximately 8,000 women and children originating from over 40 countries have been held in these challenging conditions, jeopardizing their safety and future as well as potentially contributing to ongoing instability in the region.

Despite these warnings, many countries have been reluctant to repatriate their citizens, which has led to a humanitarian crisis as individuals remain trapped in what are described as squalid camps. However, there are signs of change; recently, Belgium reported the return of a woman accused of IS membership, who had made her way from Turkey to Belgium. Additionally, an Albanian woman who had been taken to Syria as a child managed to escape from a camp and reach Turkey, indicating that efforts are being made to reconnect these individuals with their home countries, although the process is slow and fraught with challenges.

As international attention increases and more former residents begin to return, questions linger about the future of these camps and the individuals still residing within them. Their repatriation is not only a matter of legal obligation but also of moral responsibility, as the conditions in which they have been living pose significant health and security concerns. The situation underscores the complexities involved in addressing the aftermath of the IS crisis and the need for a coordinated response from the international community to ensure a safer future for both the returnees and the broader region.