The Trump administration says it is in “active communication” with countries, urging them to repatriate citizens stranded in Syria, while the Australian government maintains its hardline stance towards Australian women and children detained since the fall of Islamic State. A group of four women, their nine children and grandchildren left al-Roj camp, in Syria’s north-east, last Friday in a bid to return to Australia, with reports on Thursday morning that the Albanese government’s refusal to help them has left them stuck in Damascus.
Family members of the women and children did not respond to requests for comment. Most of the group are three generations of the same family, who have previously said they travelled to Syria for humanitarian purposes.
A further seven Australian women, and 14 of their children, remain in al-Roj camp, the Guardian has been told. The Australians are the wives, widows and children of jailed or dead Islamic State fighters, and most have been held at the camp for more than six years.
Many of the women have said they were coerced or tricked into entering Syria, or visited neighbouring countries for humanitarian reasons before being trafficked into IS territory. Some of the children were born in the camp and have never been outside it.
None of the Australians has been charged with a crime, but one woman has been issued with a temporary exclusion order seeking to prevent her return to Australia. Australia-based supporters of the women and children who assisted in previous return missions did not respond to a request for comment, but have previously been concerned about the combative stance taken by the Albanese government.