Coalition hails AANES, SDF efforts in repatriating 96 women, children
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The US-led Global Coalition applauded on Saturday efforts made by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in repatriating 96 women and children from camps in northeastern Syria.
Northeastern Syria houses the Roj and Hawl camps which contain nearly 50,000 family members linked to Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. The AANES and its military wing, the SDF, continue to call for countries with nationals in the region to expedite repatriations.
The Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), the military formation created by the Coalition to destroy ISIS, said in a statement, “This week, nearly 96 displaced women and children from camps across northeast Syria were repatriated to their home country.
CTJF-OIR added that the repatriation enables “rehabilitative support and further preventing the resurgence of Daesh [ISIS].”
The statement added that after medical screening, security checks, and inclement weather delays, “the wait ends in joyous reunion as families journey back to their home in Central Asia ready to start their new lives.”
CJTF-OIR hailed the SDF and AANES efforts in repatriating over 4,400 people in 2023 “to their communities and countries of origin from these camps, helping to ease the burden of providing humanitarian services and reducing the risk of Daesh’s exploitation of this vulnerable population.”
“Approximately 47,000 individuals from more than 60 countries remain in displaced person camps, 60% of whom are children including nearly 5,000 under the age of five. Repatriation is the only enduring solution,” the statement concluded.