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Two Australian women and four children have successfully escaped a detention facility in Syria and journeyed independently back to Victoria, while demands increase on the government of Australia to bring back its nationals.

The Escape Journey

The two women and four children – whose names and ages are not being disclosed – escaped from the infamous Al-Hol detention camp in north-east Syria, travelling more than 500km 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 commercial flight last week.

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

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

Roughly thirty-four Australians – 14 women and 20 children – have been detained at the Roj facility near the border with Turkey, largely since 2019. Some of the children were born in the camp, and know no life outside it. A smaller number of Australians are understood to have been held in the Al-Hol detention camp nearer to Iraq.

None of those in the camps has, at this point, been faced criminal charges or faces a warrant for arrest.

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 sources argue that government sponsored and controlled repatriations are much more secure, allowing for support services to be established 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 extremely poor, with widespread hunger, disease and violent incidents. A recent report described a “volatile security” situation and a “health emergency”.

“Services within the displaced persons camps are inadequate and overwhelmed and housing insufficient, with natural disasters making life hazardous. Displaced youth experience complex, severe trauma and psychological issues and psychological treatment is inadequate. Many children in the camp have no relatives, making them particularly vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Advocacy groups describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. The Al-Hol facility, housing thirty thousand individuals – more than half of them children – 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 authorities have conducted two limited repatriations: in 2019, eight orphaned children, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in October 2022, four women and 13 children were repatriated, also to NSW.

A legal action in federal court to force the authorities to return its citizens failed, with the judges ruling there was no statutory requirement on the administration.

However, the judicial panel did find: “should the government demonstrate the determination to bring the … women and children back to Australia, on the evidence before the court, it would be a relatively straightforward exercise”.

International Context

The US, which funds the bulk of security operations across north-east Syria, urges nations such as Australia to repatriate their nationals, and is even providing assistance to repatriate third-country nationals.

A congressional report argued: “the sole sustainable answer to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention facilities and DP camps is returning people to their home countries. That is why the US urges all countries to bring back their citizens from north-east Syria.”

Official Statements

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

“The Australian government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating individuals in camps in Syria.

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

The spokesperson said national authorities had “kept these people under observation for an extended period”.

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel warnings still recommend citizens avoid travel to Syria due to the hazardous conditions and threat of armed conflict.”

Local Law Enforcement Readiness

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

“Where required, Victoria Police works closely with local and national authorities to facilitate the re-integration of females and minors who come back to the state from Syrian detention centers.”