Two Australian women and four children have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and journeyed independently back to the state of Victoria, as pressure mounts on the government of Australia to bring back its nationals.
The Escape Journey
The two women and four children – whose names and ages are not being disclosed – escaped from the infamous Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they were able to obtain official papers from Australia in the capital of Lebanon.
They underwent identity and security screenings in the Lebanese capital, before flying to Australia by a commercial flight last week.
Australian Nationals Held in Syria
There are approximately forty Australian nationals – most of them children – held in detention camps in northern Syria. They are the family members of deceased or imprisoned Islamic State fighters.
About 34 Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been held in the Roj camp near the Turkish border, most since 2019. Some of the children were born in the camp, and know no life outside it. A smaller number of Australian citizens are understood to have been held in the Al-Hol detention camp nearer to Iraq.
Not a single detainee has, currently, been charged with a crime or is subject to an arrest warrant.
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 Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These sources argue that official and managed returns are far safer, allowing for support services to be put in place for those coming back, and for law enforcement agencies in Australia to be ready for their arrival.
Situation in the Camps
Conditions in the Syrian camps are extremely poor, with extensive malnutrition, disease and violent incidents. A recently published analysis described a “unstable security” situation and a “public health crisis”.
“Services within the displaced persons camps are limited and overstretched and housing insufficient, with flooding and fires making life dangerous. Young detainees experience complex, severe trauma and psychological issues and mental health care is insufficient. Many children in the camp have no relatives, making them particularly vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.”
Advocacy groups describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. Al-Hol camp, housing thirty thousand individuals – over fifty percent being minors – is regarded as particularly chaotic and violent.
Official Return Operations
For years, the federal government has been under growing demands from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The authorities have conducted two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four women and 13 children were brought back, also to New South Wales.
A legal action in federal court to compel the government to repatriate its nationals was unsuccessful, with the judges ruling there was no statutory requirement on the administration.
However, the judicial panel did find: “if the commonwealth has the political will to bring the … women and children back to Australia, on the evidence before the court, it would be a relatively straightforward exercise”.
Global Perspective
The US, which provides most security funding across north-east Syria, wants countries like Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even offering to help 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 United States encourages all countries to bring back their citizens from northeastern Syria.”
Government Response
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.
“If any of those people find their own way to return, our law enforcement bodies are satisfied that they are prepared and will be able to act in the interests of community safety.”
The spokesperson said Australian agencies had “been monitoring these individuals 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 threat of armed conflict.”
State Police Preparedness
A police representative said authorities knew Australian citizens in Syrian camps may look to return home.
“Where required, local police collaborates with state and federal agencies to assist with the reintegration of women and children who come back to the state from Syrian detention centers.”
