Five Moroccan women return from Syria as repatriation efforts advance
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Five Moroccan women have returned to Morocco from northeastern Syria in recent weeks after completing legal and administrative procedures coordinated through Moroccan diplomatic channels in Damascus, highlighting ongoing efforts to repatriate citizens stranded in former conflict zones.
The women had previously left camps in northeastern Syria, including the notorious Hawl Camp, and relocated to areas now administered by the Syria government, where access to identity documents and travel permits has become more attainable.
Abdelaziz El Bakkali, coordinator of the Moroccan Coordination of Families of Detainees and Missing Persons in Iraq and Syria, said the returnees continue to face significant psychological and physical challenges resulting from years spent in difficult camp conditions.
He praised Moroccan diplomatic services in Damascus for facilitating the process despite logistical obstacles, describing the latest returns as an important step in addressing one of Morocco’s most complex humanitarian files.
According to El Bakkali, travel costs remain the primary barrier preventing additional women from returning home. Flights from Damascus to Morocco generally require transit through Qatar, with ticket prices ranging between 20,000 and 25,000 Moroccan dirhams per person.
As a result, several women who have completed all required legal procedures are still awaiting financial assistance to cover transportation expenses.
Hundreds of foreign nationals, including Moroccan women and children, remain in camps across northeastern Syria, particularly Roj camp, where humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of difficult living conditions and limited access to essential services.
Moroccan authorities have processed more than 150 returnee cases through a combination of judicial measures, intelligence monitoring, and reintegration programs aimed at balancing security concerns with humanitarian considerations.