The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime and his flight to Russia have plunged Syria into deeper chaos, leaving the Kurdish autonomous zone, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in an increasingly precarious position. As the Kurds struggle to defend their territory against attacks from Turkey, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and the Syrian National Army, they also face the urgent and unresolved challenge of managing tens of thousands of ISIS-affiliated families, including women and children, detained in Kurdish-run camps.

The indefinite detention of approximately 64,000 women and children, including 8,500 foreign women and children, in camps like Al-Hol and Roj in northeastern Syria under the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has created a dire humanitarian and legal crisis. Among the detainees are thousands of Europeans, with children making up an estimated 60 percent of the camp population—80 percent of whom are under the age of 12, and nearly one-third younger than five.

Conditions in these camps, described as "inhumane" by human rights organizations, include severe shortages of food, water, healthcare, and education. Children face constant risks of violence, disease, exploitation, and recruitment by ISIS. Many were born to or brought by parents linked to ISIS and grow up in environments of deprivation, trauma, and neglect, making them especially vulnerable to radicalization and the influence of ISIS sleeper cells.

Lacking the infrastructure and resources to manage such large populations, these camps have become breeding grounds for extremism and exploitation. This dire situation poses both a profound humanitarian challenge and a serious threat to regional and global security, as ISIS continues to exploit these destabilized environments to rebuild its networks.

International efforts to repatriate and rehabilitate children from Syrian detention camps have been sporadic and fraught with resistance. Many nations are reluctant to accept their citizens back, even when they are minors. These children endure lives shaped by war, extremism, and global indifference, their futures overshadowed by conflict and a lack of international action.

Repatriation efforts aim to mitigate these risks, particularly for vulnerable minors, but progress has been slow. In April, a US-led operation repatriated a 10-person American family along with individuals from Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands, underscoring the challenges of addressing this crisis.

Indonesia exemplifies the dilemma nations face when addressing the fate of children born to ISIS fighters. Hundreds of Indonesian children remain stranded in camps like Al-Hol and Roj, having endured violence, indoctrination, and displacement in ISIS-controlled territories. The Indonesian government’s 2020 decision to block the return of adult ISIS affiliates has left these children in limbo, despite their lack of choice in their parents' actions.

European countries have largely taken uncoordinated, case-by-case approaches to repatriating detainees, leading to significant delays driven by political fears of public backlash, security concerns, and the lack of a unified European strategy. France, in particular, has faced international criticism for its reluctance to repatriate children of ISIS fighters detained in camps like Al-Hol and Roj. While countries like Germany, Finland, and the Netherlands have implemented more comprehensive repatriation policies for minors, France has only returned a limited number of children, often under strict conditions. Approximately 120 French children and 50 women remain in these camps, enduring what the United Nations has described as "inhumane" conditions, with high child mortality rates and pervasive insecurity.

France’s inconsistent policy is rooted in fears of public backlash, particularly from far-right groups, and concerns about national security following repeated ISIS attacks on French soil. Critics, including legal advocates and international bodies, argue that this approach undermines children’s fundamental rights and increases the risk of radicalization. Despite mounting pressure and legal reprimands from the United Nations and the European Court of Human Rights, France continues to handle repatriations on a case-by-case basis, leaving many children stranded in life-threatening conditions. This debate reflects broader tensions in France regarding national security, integration, and the rights of its Muslim and immigrant populations.

Since 2019, over 1,500 children have been repatriated from Syrian detention camps by countries such as Germany, Sweden, and Kazakhstan. For many of these children, reintegration has been challenging but largely successful. Supported by family members, foster care, and tailored rehabilitation programs, they are excelling in school and thriving in new environments. Experts note that, with proper care, repatriated children are often resilient and able to adapt to normal life.