The French foreign ministry said it had decided on repatriation because of “the situation of these particularly vulnerable young children.” About 270 children of French citizens remain in Syria, according to rights groups, which argue that this leaves the children at risk of illness and radicalisation. The French government’s actions have lagged behind its vows to repatriate the children of its citizens stranded in Syria. But so far, the government has followed a case-by-case policy that prioritises orphans and children whose mothers surrender custody. Under that policy, 18 children, including 15 orphans, had been brought home before the 10 who arrived Monday, leaving about 270 other French children marooned in dire conditions in the camps. The 10 children were handed over to a delegation from the French foreign ministry that traveled to northeastern Syria to meet with Kurdish officials.

Source: bd News24 June 23, 2020 04:41 UTC