Australia rules out repatriating citizens from Syrian camp

""We have a very firm view that we won't be providing assistance or repatriation," Albanese told national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday. "We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who travelled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine and destroy our way of life," he said. "It is unfortunate that children are impacted by this as well, but we are not providing any support.""

"The 34 women and children from 11 families were travelling from the camp to the Syrian capital, Damascus. They hoped from there to organize their journey back to Australia. But the families were forced to return to the camp after Syrian government authorities wouldn't allow them to continue their journey, Australian media reported. The convoy was being escorted by Kurdish security forces, ABC reported."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government will not repatriate Australian citizens in Roj camp in northeastern Syria. Roj holds wives, widows and children of militants suspected of links to the Islamic State. Albanese said the government has no sympathy for those who travelled to participate in attempts to establish a caliphate and that children are impacted but Australia will not provide support. A group of 34 women and children from 11 families were forced to return to Roj after Syrian authorities barred travel from Damascus; the convoy was escorted by Kurdish security forces. Roj director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim said families, not Australian authorities, organized repatriations and that those returned were the last Australians at the camp.

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