Australian political actors and humanitarian advocates have escalated calls on the federal government to repatriate Australian children detained in northeast Syria’s al-Roj camp, arguing that they are being treated as “disposable political pawns” amid deteriorating conditions and stalled return efforts.

The renewed appeal follows firsthand accounts from inside the camp that detailed dire circumstances for 11-year-old Baidaa and other children, many of whom have spent years in captivity alongside their mothers, wives and widows of suspected Islamic State fighters.

Greens home affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge said that the government has a duty to safeguard the interests of all Australian children and urged immediate action to bring them home.

His comments came as advocacy intensified around a group of 34 Australians — including 23 children and 11 women — whose attempted departure from the camp toward Damascus and onward travel to Australia was thwarted when Syrian authorities turned the convoy back due to procedural issues.

Critics of the government’s stance highlight evolving conditions across camps in northeast Syria, including closures and handovers of facilities such as al-Hol and al-Roj that have generated chaotic displacement and heightened vulnerability for detainees.

Humanitarian groups warn that prolonged confinement and exposure to violence and deprivation increase risks to children’s wellbeing, underscoring arguments for repatriation on both ethical and security grounds.

Shoebridge’s appeal was echoed by Sydney physician Dr. Jamal Rifi, who condemned what he described as “heartless” refusal by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government to more actively support the families’ return, while cautioning against separating children from their mothers and invoking historical lessons on family separation.

The Albanese government has maintained that it will not provide active assistance for repatriation and has reiterated concerns about national security and legal obligations, emphasising that Australian citizens are entitled to passports but not additional support to travel home.

This position has drawn scrutiny as political debate intensifies over how Australia should reconcile humanitarian responsibility with security considerations.

With the situation in the camps remaining fluid and previous repatriation efforts limited to only small groups in earlier years, advocates say that without decisive action by Canberra, the plight of these children and their families will continue to deteriorate amid an uncertain regional context.