Australian citizens leave Syria's Roj camp for repatriation

Thirty-four Australian citizens from 11 families departed the Roj camp in northeast Syria on Monday to travel to Damascus and then fly to Australia, camp officials and relatives said. The Roj camp holds about 2,200 people and is under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

A group of Australian nationals left the Roj camp in northeast Syria on Monday to begin the journey back to Australia, camp officials and relatives reported. Relatives of those leaving had travelled from Australia to accompany them. The people departed the heavily guarded camp under SDF control and were due to travel to Damascus before flying to Australia. The Roj camp houses roughly 2,200 people from many nationalities, most of them women and children. Reported details: - Thirty-four Australian citizens from 11 families departed the camp on Monday, according to the camp director and relatives. - Relatives had travelled from Australia to accompany those leaving. - The group will travel to Damascus and then fly to Australia, as reported by camp officials. - The Roj camp is under Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces control and holds about 2,200 residents. Summary: The movement is part of an ongoing repatriation process that follows previous returns in past years. Those leaving will travel to Damascus and then fly to Australia; further domestic procedures after arrival were not detailed.