Two Aussie Females and Four Children Escape Syria's Holding Facility, Making Their Way to the State of Victoria

A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and made their own way back to the state of Victoria, as demands increase on the government of Australia to bring back its citizens.

Their Route to Freedom

The two women and four children – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the notorious Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they secured Australian documents in the capital of Lebanon.

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

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are approximately forty Australian nationals – most of them children – detained in camps in northern Syria. They are the family members of slain or jailed Islamic State fighters.

About 34 Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been detained at the Roj facility near the border with Turkey, largely since 2019. Some of the children were born in the camp, and have never experienced life beyond its confines. A smaller number of Australian citizens are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol nearer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, currently, been faced criminal charges or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Dangers of Self-Repatriation

Sources with knowledge say the informal and ad hoc escape to Lebanon put the children at risk and that the women had been arrested in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These sources argue that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are far safer, allowing for assistance programs to be established for those coming back, and for security services in the country to be prepared for the returns.

Camp Conditions

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are dire, with widespread hunger, illness and violent incidents. A recent report described a “unstable security” situation and a “health emergency”.

“Facilities in the camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and shelters inadequate, with natural disasters 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 extremist influence.”

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. The Al-Hol facility, housing thirty thousand individuals – more than half of them children – is regarded as particularly chaotic and violent.

Official Return Operations

Over an extended period, the national government has been under growing demands from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The government has undertaken two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a pregnant teenager, were repatriated to NSW, and in October 2022, four women and 13 children were brought back, also to New South Wales.

A federal court challenge to compel the government to return its citizens was unsuccessful, 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 fairly simple process”.

Global Perspective

The US, which provides most security funding across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to take their citizens back, 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. That is why the United States encourages all countries to bring back their citizens from northeastern Syria.”

Government Response

An official representative said the country was becoming “more volatile”.

“The government is not offering help and is not conducting repatriations in camps in Syria.

“Should any individuals manage to return independently, our security agencies 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 some time”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel advice still recommend Australians do not travel to Syria due to the dangerous security situation and risk of violence.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

A Victoria Police spokesperson said police were aware Australian citizens in Syrian camps may attempt to come back.

“Where required, local police works closely with local and national authorities to assist with the reintegration of women and children who return to Victoria from Syrian detention centers.”