🔗 Share this article

Two Australian women and four children have successfully escaped a Syrian detention camp and journeyed independently back to the state of Victoria, while demands increase on the Australian government to repatriate its nationals.

Their Route to Freedom

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 cross the Lebanese border, where they were able to obtain Australian documents in Beirut.

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 north Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of deceased or imprisoned Islamic State fighters.

Roughly thirty-four Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been detained at the Roj facility near the Turkish border, most since 2019. Several youngsters 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 closer to Iraq.

None of those in the camps has, currently, been charged with a crime or faces a warrant for arrest.

Risks of Independent Escape

Informed sources say the informal and ad hoc escape to Lebanon endangered the children and that the females were detained in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These observers contend that official and managed returns are much more secure, allowing for assistance programs to be established for those coming back, and for law enforcement agencies in Australia to be prepared for the returns.

Camp Conditions

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are extremely poor, with extensive malnutrition, disease and violent incidents. A recent report described a “unstable security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Services within the displaced persons camps are limited and overstretched and shelters inadequate, with flooding and fires making life dangerous. Displaced youth experience complex, severe trauma and mental health problems and mental health care is insufficient. Many children in the camp have no family, making them particularly vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. Al-Hol camp, holding 30,000 people – over fifty percent being minors – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.

Government Repatriation Efforts

Over an extended period, the national government has been under growing demands from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The authorities have conducted two limited repatriations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a pregnant teenager, were returned to New South Wales, and in October 2022, four females and thirteen children were repatriated, also to New South Wales.

A federal court challenge to compel the government to repatriate its nationals failed, with the judges ruling there was no legal obligation 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”.

International Context

The United States, which funds the bulk of security operations across northeastern Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to return foreign citizens.

A report to Congress argued: “the sole sustainable answer to the severe humanitarian and security problems in the detention facilities and DP camps is repatriation. This explains why the US urges all countries to bring back their citizens from northeastern 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 camps in Syria.

“If any of those people 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 Australian agencies had “been monitoring these individuals for an extended period”.

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel advice continues to advise Australians do not travel to the country 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 attempt to come back.

“Where required, local police collaborates with state and federal agencies to facilitate the re-integration of females and minors who return to Victoria from camps in Syria.”