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A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have successfully escaped a detention facility in Syria and made their own way back to Victoria, as demands increase on the Australian government to bring back its nationals.

The Escape Journey

The two women and four children – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the notorious Al-Hol detention camp in north-east Syria, covering over 500 kilometers to cross the Lebanese border, where they were able to obtain official papers from Australia in the capital of Lebanon.

They underwent identity and security screenings in the Lebanese capital, before flying to Australia by a regular airline recently.

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are about 40 Australians – most of them children – detained in camps in northern 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, largely since 2019. Some of the children were born within the camp, and know no life outside it. A fewer of Australian citizens are understood to have been detained at Al-Hol closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee has, at this point, been charged with a crime or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Dangers of Self-Repatriation

Informed sources say the informal and ad hoc escape to Beirut put the children at risk and that the females were detained in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These observers contend that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are far safer, allowing for assistance programs to be established for those coming back, and for security services in Australia to be ready for their arrival.

Camp Conditions

Conditions in the Syrian camps are extremely poor, with widespread hunger, illness and outbreaks of violence. A recent report described a “volatile security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Services within the displaced persons camps are limited and overstretched and shelters inadequate, with natural disasters making life hazardous. Displaced youth experience complex, severe trauma and mental health problems and psychological treatment is inadequate. Numerous minors in the camp have no family, making them particularly vulnerable to extremist influence.”

Advocacy groups describe conditions in the camps as “extremely dangerous”. The Al-Hol facility, housing thirty thousand individuals – more than half of them children – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.

Official Return Operations

For years, the national government has been under growing demands from relatives, legal representatives, and activist organizations to repatriate its citizens. The government has undertaken two small-scale return operations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a pregnant teenager, were returned to New South Wales, and in late 2022, four females and thirteen children were brought back, also to NSW.

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

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”.

Global Perspective

The United States, which provides most security funding across northeastern Syria, wants countries like Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to return foreign citizens.

A report to Congress argued: “the only durable solution to the severe humanitarian and security problems in the detention centers and displaced persons camps is returning people to their home countries. That is why the US urges all countries to repatriate their nationals from northeastern Syria.”

Government Response

An Australian government spokesperson said the country was becoming “increasingly unstable”.

“The government is not offering help and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian displaced persons camps.

“If any of those people find their own way to return, our security agencies are satisfied that they are prepared and will be able to act in the interests of community safety.”

The spokesperson said Australian agencies had “been monitoring these individuals for an extended period”.

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel warnings continues to advise Australians do not travel to the country due to the hazardous conditions and risk of violence.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

A police representative said police were aware Australian citizens in Syrian camps may attempt to come back.

“Where required, Victoria Police works closely with state and federal agencies to assist with the reintegration of women and children who return to Victoria from camps in Syria.”