Following Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s announcement the UK is bringing home a British child from North East Syria, Save the Children’s Syria Response Director Sonia Khush said:  

“Every child saved is a triumph of compassion and this is very welcome news. We’re proud to have cared for this child and supported the UK government to bring them home. When the child was rescued, they asked if other children at our centre could come too.

“Children in Syria who have fled ISIS-held areas are innocent, including those with their mothers. They are swept up in horrific events far beyond their control and their short lives have been full of violence and fear. The threat to children in these camps is huge. Recently eight children under the age of five died in just five days and coronavirus has reached the camps, raising fears of a devastating outbreak. 

“The UK government can and must bring the remaining British children home to recover in safety. This has never been more urgent and today’s good news shows it can be done.”  

Note to editors:

• Save the Children is working across camps in North East Syria, including running a centre caring for children of 20 nationalities.
• There are more than 9,000 foreign children in the region altogether, including some remaining British children. Altogether there are around 43,000 children in the largest camp, Al Hol, out of a total population of 68,000.

We have spokespeople available who can describe the latest conditions and situation for children in the camps.

For more info you can reach out to:

Dan Stewart (for UK situation), D.Stewart@savethechildren.org.uk

Ahmed Bayram, Ahmed.Bayram@savethechildren.org

Rik Goverde, rik.goverde@savethechildren.org