The Ministry of Home Affairs has assured that some of the families who travelled to war zones abroad, will be brought back within a month or so.

Speaking to RaajjeTV, State Minister for Home Affairs Ali Nazeer revealed that some Maldivians have in the past travelled to join war zones abroad and have got stranded there.

Nazeer added that the families including women and children are reported to be suffering.

Highlighting that efforts are currently underway to bring these families back to Maldives through a reliable and convenient system. Nazeer noted that many successful attempts have been made to bring such families back and reintegrate them into society.

He added that special programs will be conducted to reintegrate them back into society.

Further, he added that one of the families who went to war has been brought back to the Maldives, reintegrated and now is living a better life.

The state minister noted that more families will be brought back within the next month or so.

Nazeer went on to express hope that the incoming administration of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu will continue the important programs and activities initiated for the welfare of the country and its people, even after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s presidential term ends.

As the Maldivian government is working to bring back Maldivian families who have gone to war, it is to be noted that some families who tried to enter Syria were detained at Turkey Airport and the airports of other foreign countries before being deported.

Speaking during a campaign tour earlier in July this year, President Solih had assured that families stranded in Syria, will be brought back to the Maldives by the end of August. 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.

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.

The president noted that speedy efforts are currently underway to bring back the Maldivians stranded in several Syrian camps, adding 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.