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Two Australian women and four children have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and journeyed independently back to the state of Victoria, as demands increase on the Australian government to bring back its citizens.

Their Route to Freedom

This group of two adults and four minors – whose names and ages are not being disclosed – escaped from the infamous Al-Hol detention camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to cross the Lebanese border, where they secured Australian documents in the capital of Lebanon.

They were subjected to identification and security checks in the Lebanese capital, before flying to Australia by a commercial flight recently.

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are about 40 Australians – the majority being minors – detained in camps in northern Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of deceased or imprisoned IS fighters.

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

None of those in the camps has, currently, been faced criminal charges or is subject to an arrest warrant.

Risks of Independent Escape

Sources with knowledge say the informal and ad hoc escape to Lebanon put the children at risk and that the women had been arrested in Lebanon when trying to cross the border. These observers contend that official and managed returns 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.

Camp Conditions

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are extremely poor, with extensive malnutrition, disease and outbreaks of violence. A recent report described a “unstable security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Facilities in the camps are limited and overstretched and shelters inadequate, with natural disasters making life dangerous. Displaced youth experience serious psychological trauma and mental health problems and psychological treatment is inadequate. Numerous minors in the camp have no family, making them particularly vulnerable to radicalisation and recruitment.”

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “extremely dangerous”. The Al-Hol facility, holding 30,000 people – 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 repatriate its citizens. 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 females and thirteen children were repatriated, 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 legal obligation on the administration.

However, the full bench of the court 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 fairly simple process”.

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 report to Congress argued: “the sole sustainable answer to the acute humanitarian and security challenges in the detention centers and displaced persons camps is returning people to their home countries. That is why the United States encourages all countries to bring back their citizens from north-east 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 camps in Syria.

“Should any individuals find their own way to return, our law enforcement bodies are confident in their readiness and will be able to ensure public security.”

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

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel warnings continues to advise Australians do not 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, Victoria Police collaborates with local and national authorities to assist with the reintegration of females and minors who come back to the state from Syrian detention centers.”