The Australian government has no immediate plan to rescue its citizens – including 20 women and more than 40 children – stranded in dangerous and squalid camps in northern Syria, arguing it will not risk more Australian lives trying to get them out.
But as Turkish troops mass on the border ahead of an expected invasion, a Sydney grandfather whose daughter and grandchildren are trapped in Al-Hawl camp argues Syria is “safer today than it will be tomorrow”. Kamalle Dabboussy said he had safely visited the camps recently, and urged Australia to repatriate its citizens while US troops are still providing a measure of security in the region.
The US government has consistently urged foreign governments to “take responsibility” for their nationals held in Kurdish-controlled internally displaced persons camps and prisons in Syria. The US president, Donald Trump, has repeatedly castigated allies for refusing to repatriate their citizens, even threatening to dump Isis prisoners at the borders of Europe.
The Australian defence minister, Linda Reynolds, said on Tuesday the Australian government was in “close contact” with its allies, including the US, after the shock announcement from Trump that America would be withdrawing its troops from the region as well as support for Kurdish allies, effectively green-lighting a Turkish invasion of northern Syria.
“It is too early yet to speculate on the consequences this might have for Australian policy in the region, as it is a very rapidly evolving new situation,” Reynolds said. “We will continue to monitor and act accordingly when we have more information to hand.”
She said the Australian government was “very concerned” about the plight of Australians held in the region.
“But I would emphasise that consular support in the area is limited if not non-existent. Any consideration of action by the Australian government will have to take into consideration the lives of anyone else we might send into the region. We will not jeopardise the lives of any other Australians.
“It is a very difficult situation. It is a very dangerous area, we will not be endangering the lives of other Australians. It’s that simple.”
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The Aussies are right. These aren’t “Australians” anyway, they gave up their citizenship to join ISIS- the world enemy. Let them rot. Too bad for the kids but they have been brainwashed anyway. Letting them in would guarantee a future jihad attack in their country.
Let the Kurds take care of them.