Six children repatriated from Syrian prison camp

OTTAWA • Six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria, but the whereabouts of their mother remained unclear Tuesday.

Global Affairs Canada said in a statement the focus is now on protecting the children’s privacy and ensuring they receive the support and care needed to begin a new life.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who has been assisting the family, received a message from Global Affairs early Tuesday saying the children arrived safely in Montreal, where a specialized clinic is helping settle them.

He recently said the children’s mother, who is from Quebec, had been denied help by Ottawa to return to Canada on security grounds.

Greenspon said while the woman managed to leave al-roj detention camp, there was no indication of where she went.

FOREIGN NATIONALS

The Canadians were among the many foreign nationals being held in centres set up after the strife-torn region was reclaimed from the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The Global Affairs statement expressed thanks to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for its co-operation “under extremely challenging security conditions.”

“We also extend our gratitude to the United States for its assistance in the repatriation of Canadians and for its valuable support throughout this process.”

Ottawa has previously arranged for the repatriation of other Canadian women and children from detention in Syria. However, several Canadian children and their non-canadian mothers continue to live in desperate conditions.

A number of Canadian men are also detained.