The US State Department has announced the repatriation of 11 American citizens and six Canadian children from camps in north-eastern Syria.
Among the repatriated Americans, ten belong to a single family, while the six Canadian individuals are all minors. Additionally, the State Department facilitated the return of four Dutch citizens and one Finnish citizen.
These individuals were among the approximately 30,000 people, mostly children, stranded in overcrowded camps in Syria, specifically Al-Hol and Roj, administered by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following the defeat of the Islamic State group’s caliphate in early 2019.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described this repatriation as the largest to date from Syrian prison camps.
While some Canadian citizens associated with the Islamic State group have faced charges related to terrorism, others, including the repatriated minors, have not been charged. Global Affairs Canada confirmed the repatriation of the six minors but withheld further details for privacy reasons.
According to Lawrence Greenspon, a Canadian lawyer handling their case, the six siblings have been settled together with one family in Canada. Last year, Canada offered to bring back the children without their mother, a proposal she declined. However, she is now seeking permission to return to Canada and reunite with her children.
The camps in north-eastern Syria have drawn attention due to reported human rights abuses and poor conditions. Concerns have also been raised about the radicalization of children exposed to Islamic State ideology in these camps.