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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 repatriate its nationals.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the notorious Al-Hol camp in north-east Syria, covering over 500 kilometers to enter Lebanon, where they were able to obtain Australian documents in Beirut.

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

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are about 40 Australians – the majority being minors – held in detention 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 detained at the Roj facility near the Turkish border, most 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 held in the Al-Hol detention camp nearer to Iraq.

None of those in the camps has, currently, been faced criminal charges or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Risks of Independent Escape

Sources with knowledge say the unofficial and improvised breakout to Beirut endangered the children and that the women had been arrested 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.

Situation in the Camps

Conditions in the Syrian camps are dire, with widespread hunger, disease and outbreaks of violence. A recent report described a “unstable security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Services within the displaced persons camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and housing insufficient, with natural disasters making life dangerous. Young detainees experience serious psychological trauma and mental health problems and psychological treatment is inadequate. Many children in the camp have no relatives, making them especially at risk to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Advocacy groups 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 federal government has been under growing demands from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to repatriate its citizens. The authorities have conducted two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight children without parents, including a pregnant teenager, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four women and 13 children were repatriated, also to New South Wales.

A legal action in federal court to force the authorities to repatriate its nationals failed, with the court finding there was no statutory requirement 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 fairly simple process”.

International Context

The United States, 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 sole sustainable answer to the severe humanitarian and security problems 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.”

Government Response

An official representative said Syria was becoming “increasingly unstable”.

“The government is not offering help and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian displaced persons camps.

“Should any individuals 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 spokesperson said national authorities had “been monitoring these individuals for an extended period”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel warnings still recommend citizens avoid travel to the country due to the dangerous security situation and threat of armed conflict.”

State Police Preparedness

A police representative said police were aware nationals in Syrian facilities may attempt to come back.

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