Two Australian women and four children have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and journeyed independently back to Victoria, while demands increase on the Australian government to repatriate its citizens.
The Escape Journey
This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – fled the notorious Al-Hol camp in north-east Syria, covering over 500 kilometers to enter Lebanon, where they were able to obtain Australian documents in Beirut.
They underwent identity and security screenings in Beirut, before flying to Australia by a regular airline recently.
Australian Nationals Held in Syria
There are approximately forty Australian nationals – most of them children – detained in camps in northern Syria. They are the family members of deceased or imprisoned IS fighters.
About 34 Australians – fourteen women and twenty children – have been held in the Roj camp near the Turkish border, largely since 2019. Some of the children were born within the camp, and have never experienced life beyond its confines. A smaller number of Australian citizens are understood to have been held in the Al-Hol detention camp closer to Iraq.
Not a single detainee has, currently, been charged with a crime or faces a warrant for arrest.
Dangers of Self-Repatriation
Informed sources say the unofficial and improvised breakout to Beirut put the children at risk and that the women had been arrested in the country when trying to cross the border. These sources argue that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are much more secure, allowing for assistance programs to be established for those coming back, and for law enforcement agencies in the country to be prepared for the returns.
Situation in the Camps
The situation in Syrian detention facilities are dire, with widespread hunger, illness and violent incidents. A recently published analysis described a “unstable security” situation and a “health emergency”.
“Facilities in the camps are limited and overstretched and shelters inadequate, with flooding and fires making life dangerous. Young detainees experience serious psychological trauma and mental health problems and psychological treatment is inadequate. Numerous minors in the camp have no family, making them particularly vulnerable to extremist influence.”
Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “extremely dangerous”. Al-Hol camp, housing thirty thousand individuals – more than half of them children – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.
Official Return Operations
For years, the federal government has been under increasing pressure from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The government has undertaken two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight children without parents, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in October 2022, four women and 13 children were repatriated, also to NSW.
A federal court challenge to compel the government to repatriate its nationals was unsuccessful, with the court finding there was no legal obligation on the administration.
However, the full bench of the court did find: “if the commonwealth has the political will to bring the … women and children back to Australia, based on available information, it would be a relatively straightforward exercise”.
Global Perspective
The US, which funds the bulk of security operations across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to repatriate third-country nationals.
A congressional report argued: “the only durable solution to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention centers and displaced persons camps is returning people to their home countries. That is why the US urges all countries to repatriate their nationals from north-east Syria.”
Official Statements
An Australian government spokesperson said Syria was becoming “increasingly unstable”.
“The Australian government is not offering help and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian displaced persons camps.
“Should any individuals find their own way to return, our security agencies are satisfied that they are prepared and will be able to ensure public security.”
The spokesperson said national authorities had “kept these people under observation for an extended period”.
“We trust our institutions.
“Our travel advice still recommend citizens avoid travel to Syria due to the dangerous security situation and risk of violence.”
State Police Preparedness
A police representative said police were aware nationals in Syrian facilities may look to return home.
“When necessary, local police collaborates with state and federal agencies to facilitate the re-integration of females and minors who come back to the state from camps in Syria.”
