Australian women and children trapped in Syrian detention camps are gripped by fear and uncertainty following the fall of the Assad regime. Reports from inside the camps describe panic and deteriorating conditions as the country faces a power vacuum.
Kamalle Dabboussy, whose family members were previously repatriated, said, “The fear is palpable. Rumors are rampant, and the families are terrified. Supplies of food, medicine, and fuel have already been disrupted, and the looming northern winter adds to their anxiety.”
Despite these concerns, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has remained cautious about the possibility of further repatriations. “We received a briefing on Syria,” Albanese stated. “The situation is evolving, and there’s no change to the current assessment.”
Power Vacuum After Assad’s Fall
Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed after the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized Damascus. The fall has created a power vacuum, raising questions about Syria’s future and the involvement of regional players.
Currently, around 40 Australians—10 women and 30 children—are detained in Kurdish-controlled camps in Syria’s northeast. These individuals, primarily the families of deceased or imprisoned Islamic State fighters, have been held in the Roj camp since 2019. Some of the children were born in detention and know no life outside the camps. None face criminal charges or arrest warrants.
Human rights organizations have long highlighted the dire conditions in these camps. The lack of basic necessities, coupled with widespread illness and malnutrition, makes the situation increasingly volatile. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged all parties to ensure safe access for humanitarian aid and to uphold international humanitarian law.
Limited Support from the Australian Government
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs acknowledged the difficulty in providing consular support due to Syria’s dangerous security environment and the absence of an embassy or consulate. While the Australian government has successfully conducted two repatriation missions in the past, political hesitancy appears to have stalled further efforts.
Government sources suggest that electoral considerations may be influencing decisions. “The government will not revisit the issue before the next election,” a source revealed.
Desperation Inside the Camps
A mother in Roj camp described the situation as terrifying: “We are freaking out and so scared. I don’t know what to do. Praying for a miracle.”
Advocates like Dabboussy report that reduced security personnel in the camps have heightened fears. “The women are deeply anxious about what lies ahead,” he said.
Save the Children has been vocal in urging the government to act. The organization’s 2023 legal challenge to compel repatriation was unsuccessful, with the federal court ruling that while the government could repatriate its citizens, it was not legally obligated to do so.
Calls for Immediate Action
Save the Children’s CEO, Mat Tinkler, expressed deep concern for the safety of children in Syria. “These innocent Australian children, most under the age of 12, have been languishing in camps for more than five years. The longer they stay, the greater the danger.”
Tinkler emphasized that Australia has the systems to successfully repatriate and reintegrate those trapped in Syria. “We must act before the situation worsens. These children deserve a chance at a future.”
As uncertainty persists in Syria, the pressure on the Australian government to act continues to grow. For the families trapped in detention, time is running out.