Kyrgyzstan successfully repatriated eight women and 14 children, from displacement camps in northeast Syria. This operation marks the latest effort by the Central Asian state to bring home those stranded by the collapse of the Islamic State (IS) group.
The foreign ministry of Kyrgyzstan announced the mission's completion, emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the effort.
"On 19 July, 2024, another humanitarian mission was carried out to repatriate citizens of Kyrgyzstan staying in refugee camps in the north east of Syria,"
the ministry stated.
"As a result, 22 citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic -- eight women and 14 children -- were safely brought back to their homeland."
The repatriation mission was supported by international organizations, including the United States and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). These entities provided critical assistance in ensuring the safe return of the Kyrgyz nationals.
The recent operation is part of a broader initiative by Kyrgyzstan to repatriate its citizens who were displaced due to the Syrian conflict. Since 2021, the country has brought back over 500 individuals, most of whom require rehabilitation before reintegrating into Kyrgyzstan's officially secular society.
The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, saw thousands of people, including many from Muslim-majority countries in Central Asia, joining jihadist groups like IS. At the height of the war, between 2013 and 2015, these groups attracted significant numbers of foreign fighters. Following the collapse of IS, many militants and their families were captured and placed in detention centers or displacement camps. Conditions in these camps are often harsh, with inadequate access to basic necessities, posing significant humanitarian concerns.
The issue of repatriating families of jihadists is contentious and complex, not only in Central Asia but also in Europe and other regions. Many countries are reluctant to allow citizens with ties to Islamist groups to return, citing security concerns.
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