Five Maldivian families who had been stranded in Syria after fleeing there have been successfully repatriated to Male’.
Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan, during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, announced that these families were brought back to Male’ on a specially arranged chartered flight in the early hours of the morning.
It is estimated that over 100 Maldivians had initially fled to Syria, with around 70 believed to have perished in the ongoing conflict.
Ihusan mentioned that more than 90 Maldivian nationals, comprising widows of fighters and their children, have sought government help to return to the Maldives. These individuals were residing in camps near the Turkey-Syria border, facing inadequate access to essentials like food, clean water, healthcare, and education.
The flight transporting the 21 members of these five families arrived at the Velana International Airport (VIA) at 05:02 am on Tuesday. This group included six adults (four women and an 18-year-old man) and 15 children, with the youngest being only three years old.
Authorities conducted DNA tests to verify their nationalities and coordinated with Turkish officials for the repatriation process.
A team of 15 police officers was dispatched to Turkey on Sunday to escort the families back to the Maldives.
Upon arrival, the families were taken to the National Re-integration Center (NRC) in K. Himmafushi. Here, they will undergo a series of assessments, including rehabilitation and deradicalization programs. According to the law, they are required to remain at the NRC for a minimum of one year before they can be reintegrated into society.