A volunteer at the camp in Ain Issa looking after orphaned children reportedly linked with foreign ISIS fighters in September. AFP
A volunteer at the camp in Ain Issa looking after orphaned children reportedly linked with foreign ISIS fighters in September. AFP
A volunteer at the camp in Ain Issa looking after orphaned children reportedly linked with foreign ISIS fighters in September. AFP
A volunteer at the camp in Ain Issa looking after orphaned children reportedly linked with foreign ISIS fighters in September. AFP

Britain working with international agencies for repatriation of ISIS children


  • English
  • Arabic

The UK government is working with international organisations in north-east Syria to provide safe passage home for unaccompanied minors born to British ISIS members, The Observer reported.

Three orphans, among others, have been identified as possible beneficiaries of the initiative.

The children are believed to have travelled to Syria with their parents five years ago. They are in Raqqa, ISIS’s former "capital", under the custody of Kurdish forces.

Kurdish officials and British charities have evaluated the possibility of moving the children to the Iraqi Kurdistan region so they can be flown from Erbil to the UK.

The route, particularly during the ceasefire in north-east Syria brokered by US and Turkey, is considered quick and safe.

Save the Children estimated there were about 30 unaccompanied minors in the Al Roj and Al Hol camps, which remain beyond the reach of fighting between Turkish and Kurdish forces.

“While things are evolving rapidly, our latest information is that transport out of the area is possible and border crossings between Syria and Iraq remain open,” a spokesman for Save the Children said.

The UK government has indicated that it is rethinking its policy after refusing the repatriation of British former ISIS member Shamima Begum’s newborn baby.

The child, which was born to the former ISIS member while in detention, died after she was denied the right to return to the UK.

The government had previously said rescue attempts might endanger officials, but the Foreign Office will now look at each child case by case.

“We are looking at orphans and unaccompanied minors who bear UK nationality and whether they can be provided safe passage to return to the UK," the foreign office said.

"We will examine every single case where we are asked for consular assistance but this process is far from straightforward."

Belgium, France and Germany are also in the process of looking to use the window offered by the ceasefire to repatriate women and children linked to ISIS.

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

England-South Africa Test series

1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London

2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham

3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London

4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Federer's 19 grand slam titles

Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal

French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling

Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic

US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray

Army of the Dead

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera

Three stars

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

While you're here
Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big