‘No arrangement’ to repatriate Australian women and children in Syrian camps, court hears

Save the Children has argued before court that Australia has de facto control of the Australians’ detention in Syria, citing previous successful repatriation missions. Photograph: Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images

Australia has “no arrangement” to bring Australian women and children home from Syrian detention camps, the government has told the federal court, despite official correspondence citing a “plan to repatriate further groups of women and children”.

Save the Children Australia is acting as guardian for 11 Australian women and their 20 children – currently held in detention camps in north-east Syria.