Australian women held in Syrian camp say they would accept children returning home separately

Six of the 23 Australian children held at al-Roj camp in Syria. Some of the 11 Australian women held there say they are willing to send their children home without them. Photograph: Baderkhan Ahmad/The Guardian

Australian women detained in north-east Syria over ties to Islamic State fighters said they would accept separation from their children if it meant the children could return to Australia.

Some of the 11 women held in Kurdish-controlled al-Roj camp said on Monday that they wanted the Australian government to repatriate their children at any cost, even if it meant placing children in the hands of relatives at home while they stayed behind in the camp.