Australia repatriates 17 women and children from Syrian camp

An estimated 11,000 overseas youngsters and girls stay within the Roj and al-Hol refugee camps in northeastern Syria.

Individuals use umbrellas as they stroll within the rain on the Roj camp, the place relations of individuals suspected of belonging to ISIL (ISIS) are held in Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province [File: Delil Souleiman/AFP]

The Australian authorities has repatriated 4 Australian ladies and their 13 youngsters from a Syrian refugee camp to New South Wales state, dwelling affairs minister Clare O’Neil stated.

The repatriation is a part of a plan to convey again from Syria dozens of Australian ladies and youngsters who're relations of lifeless or jailed ISIL (ISIS) fighters and who've languished for a number of years on the al-Hol and Roj detention camps in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria.

Australia first repatriated eight youngsters and grandchildren of two lifeless ISIL fighters from a Syrian refugee camp in 2019 however has held off repatriating any others till now.

“The choice to repatriate these ladies and their youngsters was knowledgeable by particular person assessments following detailed work by nationwide safety companies,” O’Neil stated in an announcement on Saturday.

The ladies and youngsters left the Roj refugee camp in northern Syria on Thursday afternoon and crossed the border into Iraq to board a flight dwelling, the Sydney Morning Herald and state broadcaster ABC reported on Friday.

O’Neil stated always the main target has been on the security and safety of “all Australians” in addition to these concerned within the repatriation, with the federal government having “rigorously thought of the vary of safety, neighborhood and welfare components in making the choice to repatriate”.

The repatriation adopted related strikes by america, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Canada, O’Neil stated.

She stated allegations of criminal activity would proceed to be investigated by state and federal legislation enforcement authorities.

“Any recognized offences could result in legislation enforcement motion being taken,” O’Neil stated, including that New South Wales was offering “in depth assist providers” to help the group to reintegrate into Australia.

Opposition celebration chief Peter Dutton has labelled the transfer as not within the nation’s greatest curiosity, saying the ladies have blended with “individuals who hate our nation, hate our lifestyle”.

In an announcement on Saturday attributed to the repatriated ladies, the group stated they had been “deeply grateful” to be again in Australia they usually expressed remorse for the “troubles and harm” brought on by their actions, significantly to their households.

Asking for privateness and area to reconnect with their family members, the ladies expressed hope that “all Australian youngsters and their moms will quickly be repatriated from the camps in Syria”.

Human Rights Watch researcher Sophie McNeill stated the repatriation was a “lengthy overdue step”.

“For years, the Australian authorities has deserted its nationals to horrific situations in locked camps in northeast Syria,” McNeill stated.

“Australia can play a management function on counterterrorism by these orderly repatriations of its nationals, most of them youngsters who by no means selected to stay beneath ISIS,” she stated.

In an announcement congratulating Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his “robust management” on the repatriation plan, the humanitarian organisation Save the Kids stated that an estimated 11,000 overseas youngsters and girls stay within the Roj and al-Hol camps.

“The dangers to youngsters have solely turn into better attributable to rising violence and an outbreak of cholera throughout the area,” the organisation stated in an announcement.

MEDIA RELEASE: : Save the Kids welcomes the secure repatriation of 13 harmless Australian youngsters and their moms to dwelling shores after spending years in camps in North East Syria. pic.twitter.com/GQSAk1Ufys

— Save the Kids Australia Information (@SaveAusNews) October 29, 2022