22 Russian children repatriated from Roj Camp of North and East Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — On Saturday, a Russian delegation headed by Assistant Commissioner for Children’s Rights to the President of the Russian Federation Larisa Nikolaevna arrived in Zalin (Qamishli) at the headquarters of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria to receive a group of orphaned Russian children who have been in Roj Refugee Camp.

Member of the Administrative Body of the Commission Abeer Elia thanked Russia during a press conference for assuming its responsibility and repatriating 22 orphaned children.

“So far, 250 children have been handed over, in several batches, to the Office of the Commissioner for Child Rights of the President of the Russian Federation,” she added, noting that cooperation with the Office regarding this file is continuing.

Elia also added that, on 3 June 2021, they held a meeting between a delegation from the DAA and representatives of the foreign ministries of a number of European countries and the U.S. and Canada, to discuss the difficult issue of repatriation.

They called on the international community to assume its responsibility towards repatriating foreigners currently in camps North and East Syria.

Nikolaevna, in turn, thanked the DAA and all those who contributed to facilitating the handover of the children, stressing that they would continue to work with the DAA until the last Russian child in the region is repatriated.

The handover document signed by both parties, confirmed that the children are in good health and have not been subjected to any moral or physical pressure while they are in the DAA areas.