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A pair of Australian females and four youngsters have managed to break out of a Syrian detention camp and made their own way back to Victoria, as pressure mounts on the Australian government to repatriate its nationals.

Their Route to Freedom

The two women and four children – with identities kept confidential – escaped from the notorious Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, travelling more than 500km to cross the Lebanese border, where they secured Australian documents in Beirut.

They were subjected to identification and security checks in the Lebanese capital, before travelling to Australia by a regular airline last week.

Australian Nationals Held in Syria

There are approximately forty Australian nationals – the majority being minors – 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, most 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 detained at Al-Hol closer to Iraq.

Not a single detainee 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 Lebanon 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 support services to be established for those returning, and for security services in Australia to be ready for their arrival.

Camp Conditions

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

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

Human rights organizations describe conditions in the camps as “life-threatening”. The Al-Hol facility, holding 30,000 people – more than half of them children – is regarded as notably unstable and dangerous.

Government Repatriation Efforts

For years, the national 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 children without parents, including a expectant teen, were repatriated to NSW, and in late 2022, four women and 13 children were brought back, also to New South Wales.

A federal court challenge to force the authorities to repatriate its nationals failed, with the judges ruling there was no legal obligation on the administration.

However, the full bench of the court did find: “should the government demonstrate the determination to bring the … women and children back to Australia, based on available information, it would be a fairly simple process”.

International Context

The United States, which funds the bulk of security operations across northeastern 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 severe humanitarian and security problems 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.”

Government Response

An official representative said the country was becoming “increasingly unstable”.

“The Australian government is not offering help and is not conducting repatriations in camps in Syria.

“If any of those people manage to return independently, our security agencies are confident in their readiness and will be able to ensure public security.”

The spokesperson said national authorities had “been monitoring these individuals for an extended period”.

“We have confidence in our agencies.

“Our travel advice continues to advise citizens avoid travel to Syria due to the hazardous conditions and threat of armed conflict.”

State Police Preparedness

A Victoria Police spokesperson said authorities knew Australian citizens in Syrian camps may look to return home.

“Where required, local police works closely with local and national authorities to facilitate the re-integration of women and children who return to Victoria from Syrian detention centers.”