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Two Australian women and four children have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and made their own way back to the state of Victoria, while pressure mounts 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 camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to enter Lebanon, where they secured Australian documents in the capital of Lebanon.

They underwent identity and security screenings in Beirut, before travelling to Australia by a regular airline last week.

Australians in Syrian Camps

There are about 40 Australians – the majority being minors – held in detention camps in northern Syria. They are the wives, widows and children of slain or jailed IS fighters.

About 34 Australians – fourteen women and twenty children – have been detained at the Roj facility near the Turkish border, 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 held in the Al-Hol detention camp nearer to Iraq.

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

Risks of Independent Escape

Informed sources say the unofficial and improvised breakout to Beirut put the children at risk and that the women had been arrested 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 the country to be ready for their arrival.

Situation in the Camps

The situation in Syrian detention facilities are extremely poor, with widespread hunger, illness and violent incidents. A recent report described a “volatile security” situation and a “public health crisis”.

“Facilities in the camps are limited and overstretched and housing insufficient, with flooding and fires making life hazardous. Young detainees experience serious psychological trauma and psychological issues and mental health care is insufficient. Many children in the camp have no relatives, making them especially at risk to extremist influence.”

Advocacy groups describe conditions in the camps as “extremely dangerous”. 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 national government has been under growing demands from families, lawyers, and advocacy groups to bring back its nationals. The authorities have conducted two limited repatriations: in 2019, eight children without parents, including a pregnant teenager, were repatriated to NSW, and in October 2022, four women and 13 children were repatriated, also to NSW.

A federal court challenge to force the authorities to return its citizens failed, with the court finding there was no legal obligation on the government.

However, the full bench of the court 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”.

Global Perspective

The United States, which funds the bulk of security operations across northeastern Syria, urges nations such as Australia to take their citizens back, and is even offering to help return foreign citizens.

A congressional report 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 north-east Syria.”

Official Statements

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

“The government is not providing assistance and is not repatriating individuals in Syrian displaced persons camps.

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

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

“We trust our institutions.

“Our travel warnings continues to advise citizens avoid travel to Syria due to the dangerous security situation and risk of violence.”

State Police Preparedness

A police representative said police were aware Australian citizens in Syrian camps may look to return home.

“When necessary, Victoria Police works closely with state and federal agencies to facilitate the re-integration of females and minors who come back to the state from Syrian detention centers.”