Australian Women and Children Begin Journey Home from Syrian Camp: A Hopeful Return

A group of women, often referred to as ISIS brides, along with their children, have departed from a camp in northern Syria, with hopes of finally returning to Australia. This comes after an unsuccessful repatriation effort earlier this year.

The Australian government has provided passports to four women and nine children, allowing them to leave the harsh conditions of Syria’s Al-Roj camp, potentially for the last time.

Lana Hussein, the coordinator of the camp, stated that there is a security process in place, which can take up to 72 hours, before the individuals can be deported.

Just under three months ago, a group of 34 Australian citizens in the camp attempted to return home, but their efforts were thwarted by Syrian government forces.

It seems that this time, they have successfully navigated past those previous obstacles.

“The co-ordination was perfect,” Al-Roj camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim told the ABC through a translator.

“It was done between us and the Syrian Government to be able to fly back these families to their country.”

The Australian government is required to issue passports to its citizens.

This group is no exception but the government says assistance to bring them back stopped there. 

“The Australian government is not repatriating those people from Syria,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.

Only one of the women who has been living at the Syrian camp has been temporarily banned from entering Australia.

No other exclusion orders have been issued. 

“Tony Burke himself has said ‘We do not want them here’,” Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said. 

“You are in government, you can do something about it.”

When terror group Islamic State retreated in 2019, families linked to its fighters were taken to decrepit camps.

The move was something their children had no choice in.

This group’s departure leaves another 11 Australian women and children in Al-Roj.

The camp says there are no plans yet for their return.

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