"Two Australian women and four children have escaped a Syrian detention camp and made their own way home to Victoria, as pressure mounts on the Australian government to repatriate its citizens. The two women and four children the Guardian is not revealing their names or ages escaped from the notorious Al-Hol detention camp in north-east Syria, travelling more than 500km to cross the Lebanese border, where they were able to obtain Australian documents in Beirut."
"There are about 40 Australians most of them children held in detention camps in north Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of slain or jailed Islamic State fighters. About 34 Australians 14 women and 20 children have been held in the Roj camp near the Turkish border, most since 2019. Some of the children were born in the camp, and know no life outside it."
"Sources with knowledge of the five Australians' passage home say the informal and ad hoc escape to Beirut endangered the children and that the women had been arrested in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. Those sources argue that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are far safer, allowing for support services to be put in place for those returning, and for security services in Australia to be prepared for the returns."
Two Australian women and four children escaped Al-Hol camp in north-east Syria and travelled more than 500km to reach Lebanon. They obtained Australian documents in Beirut, underwent identity and security screenings, and flew to Victoria on a commercial flight. About 40 Australians, mostly children and relatives of Islamic State fighters, remain detained in north Syrian camps. About 34 Australians have been held in the Roj camp near the Turkish border, and a smaller number in Al-Hol nearer Iraq. Sources say the ad hoc escape endangered children and involved arrests in Lebanon; they argue organised repatriations would be safer and allow support and security preparations.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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