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Two Australian women and four children have managed to break out of a detention facility in Syria and journeyed independently back to Victoria, as pressure mounts on the Australian government to bring back its nationals.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – with identities kept confidential – fled the notorious Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, covering over 500 kilometers to enter Lebanon, where they secured Australian documents in the capital of Lebanon.

They were subjected to identification and security checks in Beirut, before flying to Australia by a regular airline last week.

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

There are about 40 Australians – most of them children – detained in camps in north Syria. They are the family members of slain or jailed Islamic State fighters.

About 34 Australians – fourteen women and twenty children – have been held in the Roj camp near the border with Turkey, largely since 2019. Several youngsters were born within the camp, and have never experienced life beyond its confines. A smaller number of Australian citizens are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, at this point, been faced criminal charges or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Dangers of Self-Repatriation

Informed sources 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 government sponsored and controlled repatriations are much more secure, allowing for assistance programs to be put in place for those coming back, and for security services in Australia to be prepared for the returns.

Situation in the Camps

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are dire, with extensive malnutrition, illness and violent incidents. A recent report described a “unstable security” situation and a “health emergency”.

“Facilities in the camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and housing insufficient, with natural disasters making life dangerous. Displaced youth experience serious psychological trauma and mental health problems and psychological treatment is inadequate. Many children in the camp have no family, making them especially at risk to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. Al-Hol camp, housing thirty thousand individuals – over fifty percent being minors – is regarded as particularly chaotic and violent.

Official Return Operations

Over an extended period, the federal government has been under increasing pressure from relatives, legal representatives, and activist organizations to bring back its nationals. The government has undertaken two limited repatriations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a pregnant teenager, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four women and 13 children were brought back, also to New South Wales.

A legal action in federal court to compel the government to return its citizens failed, with the court finding there was no statutory requirement on the government.

However, the judicial panel 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 relatively straightforward exercise”.

International Context

The US, which provides most security funding across north-east Syria, wants countries like Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to return foreign citizens.

A congressional report argued: “the sole sustainable answer to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention facilities and DP camps is repatriation. This explains why the US urges all countries to repatriate their nationals from northeastern Syria.”

Government Response

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

“The government is not providing assistance and is not conducting repatriations 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 representative said national authorities had “been monitoring these individuals for some time”.

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel advice continues to advise citizens avoid travel to the country due to the hazardous conditions and risk of violence.”

State Police Preparedness

A Victoria Police spokesperson said authorities knew nationals in Syrian facilities may look to return home.

“When necessary, local police collaborates with state and federal agencies to assist with the reintegration of women and children who return to Victoria from camps in Syria.”