Families stranded in Syria to be brought back by August-end
9 ޖުލައި 2023 | އާދީއްތަ 12:48Efforts will also be undertaken to rehabilitate them before they are reintegrated into society
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih speaking to residents of Sh. Komandoo
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has assured that families stranded in Syria, will be brought back to the Maldives by the end of August.
He said this while speaking to residents of Komandhoo island in Shaviyani atoll, as part of his ongoing four-island campaign tour of the atoll.
Stressing that there are Maldivian widows and their children stranded in Syria, the president noted that the government is currently working to bring them back.
As such, the president assured that these families will be brought back to the Maldives by the end of August.
Stressing that more than 100 Maldivians have travelled to Syria for the conflict, President Solih stated that 70 Maldivians have been killed in the war.
According to the government, Maldivians who had gone to war in Syria and got stranded there, will be brought back to the Maldives with the collaborative efforts with foreign nations.
Efforts will also be undertaken to rehabilitate them before they are reintegrated into society.
Speaking at the event in Komandoo, the president noted that speedy efforts are currently underway to bring back the Maldivians stranded in several Syrian camps.
The Maldivian leader also said that rehabilitation efforts will be carried out with the help of foreign countries, after a rehabilitation center is built in the Maldives.
Due to lack of written documentation, authorities earlier stressed that it would be a challenge to bring the women and their children stranded in Syrian camps.
Earlier, President Solih revealed that talks are underway to move Maldivian refugees displaced in Syrian camps to another country. They will be placed in rehabilitation upon return, where a risk assessment will be carried out to determine if they are worthy of reintegration.
Findings of the police institute reveal that over 173 Maldivians had travelled to join the Syrian conflict, through numerous terror groups. A number of them have been requesting to return home, mostly local widows and orphans.
While many Maldivians have in the past become casualties of the Syrian war, many are involved in terrorist groups and thus are deemed a national threat as there is a possibility of crisis in the Maldives.
