British officials have initiated the process of repatriating children stranded in Syria, working directly with agencies on the ground to identify unaccompanied minors for safe passage back to the UK. Whitehall sources confirmed they are liaising with various organisations in north-east Syria, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to transfer children of British parents linked to Islamic State.
Among the first cases identified are three orphans who travelled to Syria from London five years ago and are currently in Raqqa, under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces. Kurdish officials and British charities have evaluated transporting the children to Iraq, where they can be flown from Erbil to the UK, as both quick and safe, especially during the five-day ceasefire.
The development comes before an appeal this week by Shamima Begum against the removal of her UK citizenship. Begum, who travelled to Syria in 2015 aged 15, is currently in al-Roj refugee camp. Her lawyers will argue the decision was unlawful in a four-day hearing at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
Save the Children confirmed that major refugee camps, al-Roj and al-Hol, where an estimated 30 unaccompanied British children are held, remain unaffected by recent fighting. A spokesperson said transferring British minors from Syria is currently relatively straightforward, with border crossings between Syria and Iraq still open. The Kurdish administration is described as extremely supportive of future repatriations negotiated with UK officials.
Until last week, the UK government considered it too dangerous to attempt rescues. However, following Turkey's invasion of northern Syria, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab hinted at a policy change, stating the government is examining whether British orphans and unaccompanied minors can be provided safe passage to return to the UK.
