Australian women and children leave Syrian camp hoping to return home
A group of so-called ISIS brides and their children left a camp in northern Syria today, hoping to return to Australia following a failed repatriation attempt earlier this year.
Four women and nine children have been issued passports by the federal government before they left the dire conditions at Syria's Al-Roj camp for what they hope is the final time.
The camp's co-ordinator Lana Hussein said there is a security procedure that takes up to 72 hours before they are deported.
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A group of so-called ISIS brides and their children left a camp in Northern Syria today, hoping to return to Australia following a failed repatriation attempt earlier this year. 9News
Less than three months ago the entire group of 34 Australians citizens at the camp tried to come home but their escape was foiled by Syrian government forces.
It appears that this time they have overcome that hurdle.
"The co-ordination was perfect," Al-Roj camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim told the ABC through a translator.
"It was done between us and the Syrian Government to be able to fly back these families to their country."
The Australian government is required to issue passports to its citizens.
This group is no exception but the government says assistance to bring them back stopped there.
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A group of so-called ISIS brides and their children left a camp in Northern Syria today, hoping to return to Australia following a failed repatriation attempt earlier this year. 9News
"The Australian government is not repatriating those people from Syria," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said.
Only one of the women who has been living at the Syrian camp has been temporarily banned from entering Australia.
No other exclusion orders have been issued.
"Tony Burke himself has said 'We do not want them here'," Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said.
"You are in government, you can do something about it."
A group of so-called ISIS brides and their children left a camp in Northern Syria today, hoping to return to Australia following a failed repatriation attempt earlier this year. 9News
When terror group Islamic State retreated in 2019, families linked to its fighters were taken to decrepit camps.
The move was something their children had no choice in.
This group's departure leaves another 11 Australian women and children in Al-Roj.
The camp says there are no plans yet for their return.
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