Jussi Tanner, the head of the consular department at Finland's Foreign Ministry, indicated that an announcement regarding the closure of the Al-Hol camp may come soon, possibly as early as today. The camp, which has seen a significant decrease in its population, was holding around a dozen Finnish nationals at the beginning of the year. While Tanner refrained from disclosing specific details about their situation, he expressed concern over the dire conditions facing children in the camp, which have persisted for seven years. There are growing apprehensions about where these children will go once the camp closes.

The Al-Hol camp, located in northeastern Syria, has primarily housed wives of ISIS fighters, women associated with the group, and their children since its inception in 2019. Tanner noted that Finland has repatriated a total of 36 citizens from northeastern Syria, indicating the country's ongoing commitment to bringing its nationals home. The situation highlights the complexities surrounding national security, humanitarian responsibilities, and the rights of children caught in conflict zones.

As the Finnish government deliberates on how to assist the children remaining in Al-Hol, not everyone is eager to return to Finland. This underscores the multifaceted challenges faced by returning citizens, particularly those affiliated with groups like ISIS. Tanner previously stated that Finland is prepared to repatriate all children from Al-Hol, along with their mothers if required. The implications of repatriation and the support systems needed for these families will be a critical aspect of the ongoing discussions and decisions made by Finnish authorities.