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A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have successfully escaped a detention facility in Syria and made their own way back to the state of Victoria, while pressure mounts on the government of Australia to repatriate its citizens.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – fled the infamous Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, covering over 500 kilometers to enter Lebanon, where they secured Australian documents in Beirut.

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

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

There are about 40 Australians – the majority being minors – detained in camps in northern Syria. They are the family members of slain or jailed IS fighters.

About 34 Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been held in the Roj camp near the border with Turkey, largely since 2019. Several youngsters were born in the camp, and have never experienced life beyond its confines. A fewer of Australians are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, at this point, been faced criminal charges or faces a warrant for arrest.

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 the country when trying to cross the border. These observers contend that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are far safer, allowing for support services to be established for those returning, and for security services in Australia to be ready for their arrival.

Camp Conditions

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are dire, with widespread hunger, disease and outbreaks of violence. A recently published analysis described a “volatile security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Facilities in the camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and housing insufficient, with flooding and fires making life dangerous. 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 especially at risk to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “extremely dangerous”. Al-Hol camp, 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 federal government has been under increasing pressure from relatives, legal representatives, and activist organizations to repatriate its citizens. The government has undertaken two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four females and thirteen children were brought back, also to New South Wales.

A federal court challenge to compel the government to repatriate its nationals failed, with the court finding 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, based on available information, it would be a relatively straightforward exercise”.

Global Perspective

The United States, which provides most security funding across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to 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 repatriation. This explains why the United States encourages all countries to repatriate their nationals from northeastern Syria.”

Official Statements

An official representative said the country 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 security agencies are satisfied that they are prepared and will be able to ensure public security.”

The spokesperson said national authorities had “kept these people under observation for an extended period”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel advice still recommend 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 nationals in Syrian facilities may attempt to come back.

“Where required, local police collaborates with state and federal agencies to assist with the reintegration of women and children who return to Victoria from camps in Syria.”