Syrian authorities halted the first repatriation of Australian women and children from the Roj camp on Monday. The 34 individuals from 11 families, who had departed the remote camp near Iraq's border with Damascus, were turned back due to incomplete procedures. Relatives had coordinated the journey from Australia, but Damascus officials stated the departure process wasn't finalized, forcing the group's return to the camp.

This marks a setback for the repatriation effort, which had been planned for the year. The Roj camp currently houses approximately 2,200 people from over 50 nationalities, mostly women and children with alleged IS ties. Most residents are not formally detained but have been effectively confined in the heavily guarded facility controlled by Kurdish-led forces.

The camp's director noted that 16 families were repatriated last year, including Germans, British, and French nationals, with three Australian families repatriated in 2022. The fate of the Roj camp and the larger al-Hol camp remains a contentious issue, with human rights groups citing poor conditions and violence, while countries hesitate to accept their citizens back. The Australian government did not immediately comment on the repatriation attempt.