Two Australian Women and Four Children Break Free From Syrian Detention Camp, Fleeing to the State of Victoria

Two Australian women and four children have successfully escaped a detention facility in Syria and made their own way back to the state of Victoria, while demands increase on the government of Australia to bring back its citizens.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the infamous Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they secured official papers from Australia in Beirut.

They were subjected to identification and security checks in the Lebanese capital, before flying to Australia by a regular airline last week.

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

There are about 40 Australians – most of them children – held in detention camps in northern Syria. They are the family members of deceased or imprisoned IS fighters.

Roughly thirty-four Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been held in the Roj camp near the border with Turkey, largely since 2019. Some of the children were born in the camp, and know no life outside it. A smaller number of Australians are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol nearer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, at this point, been charged with a crime or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Dangers of Self-Repatriation

Sources with knowledge say the informal and ad hoc escape to Beirut put the children at risk and that the females were detained in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These observers contend that official and managed returns are far safer, allowing for assistance programs to be put in place 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 extremely poor, with widespread hunger, illness and outbreaks of violence. A recently published analysis described a “volatile 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 hazardous. Displaced youth experience serious psychological 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, holding 30,000 people – over fifty percent being minors – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.

Official Return Operations

For years, the national government has been under growing demands from relatives, legal representatives, and activist organizations to bring back its nationals. The authorities have conducted two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight children without parents, including a expectant teen, were returned to New South Wales, and in late 2022, four females and thirteen children were brought back, also to NSW.

A legal action in federal court to force the authorities to repatriate its nationals failed, with the court finding there was no legal obligation on the government.

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 US, which funds the bulk of security operations across northeastern Syria, wants countries like Australia to take their citizens back, and is even offering to help return foreign citizens.

A congressional report argued: “the only durable solution to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention facilities and DP camps is repatriation. That is why the US urges all countries to repatriate their nationals from north-east Syria.”

Government Response

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

“The Australian government is not offering help and is not conducting repatriations in Syrian displaced persons camps.

“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 act in the interests of community safety.”

The representative said national authorities had “kept these people under observation for some time”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel advice continues to advise Australians do not travel to the country due to the dangerous security situation and risk of violence.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

A police representative said authorities knew nationals in Syrian facilities may look to return home.

“When necessary, local police works closely with state and federal agencies to facilitate the re-integration of women and children who return to Victoria from Syrian detention centers.”