Five families stranded in Syria flown back to Maldives

Five Maldivian families left stranded after fleeing to Syria have been repatriated to Male’.

In a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan said the families were flown back to Male’ on a chartered flight in early morning.

Over 100 Maldivians are believed to have fled to Syria, with an estimated 70 believed to have later died in the conflict.

Ihusan said that over 90 Maldivian nationals - the widows of fighters and their children – have requested for government intervention to allow them to return to the Maldives.

They are living in the camps near Syria’s border with Turkey, without proper access to food, clean water, healthcare and education.

The flight carrying 21 individuals from five families landed at the Velana International Airport (VIA) at 05:02 am Tuesday.

They include six adults – four women and one 18-year-old man, and 15 children – the youngest of them just three years old.

The authorities tested their DNA to confirm their nationality, and liaised with Turkish authorities to repatriate them.

A team of 15 police officers flew to Turkey to collect the families on Sunday.

The families have been taken to the National Re-integration Center (NRC) in K. Himmafushi, where they will undergo assessments, and rehabilitation and deradicalization.

The law dictates that they must stay there, for at least a year, before being reintegrated back into society.