🔗 Share this article

A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have successfully escaped a detention facility in Syria and journeyed independently back to Victoria, while pressure mounts on the Australian government 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 north-east Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they secured official papers from Australia in Beirut.

They underwent identity and security screenings in Beirut, before travelling to Australia by a regular airline last week.

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are approximately forty Australian nationals – most of them children – detained in 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 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 fewer of Australian citizens are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, currently, been charged with a crime or faces a warrant for arrest.

Risks of Independent Escape

Sources with knowledge say the unofficial and improvised breakout to Lebanon put the children at risk and that the women had been arrested in Lebanon when attempting to cross the frontier. These observers contend that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are much more secure, allowing for assistance programs to be established for those returning, and for law enforcement agencies in the country to be ready for their arrival.

Situation in the Camps

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are extremely poor, with extensive malnutrition, disease and violent incidents. A recently published analysis described a “volatile security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Facilities in the camps are limited and overstretched and shelters inadequate, with natural disasters making life hazardous. Young detainees experience complex, severe trauma and psychological issues and psychological treatment is inadequate. Many children in the camp have no family, making them especially at risk to extremist influence.”

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 notably unstable and dangerous.

Government Repatriation Efforts

For years, 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 children without parents, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four females and thirteen children were repatriated, also to NSW.

A federal court challenge to compel the government to return its citizens failed, with the judges ruling 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, on the evidence before the court, it would be a fairly simple process”.

Global Perspective

The US, which provides most security funding across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to return foreign citizens.

A congressional report argued: “the only durable solution 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 repatriate their nationals from northeastern Syria.”

Government Response

An official representative said the country was becoming “increasingly unstable”.

“The Australian government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating individuals in camps in Syria.

“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 representative said Australian agencies had “kept these people under observation for an extended period”.

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel warnings continues to advise Australians do not travel to the country due to the dangerous security situation and threat of armed conflict.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

A Victoria Police spokesperson said authorities knew Australian citizens in Syrian camps may look to return home.

“Where required, Victoria Police collaborates with local and national authorities to facilitate the re-integration of women and children who return to Victoria from camps in Syria.”