In brief
In the aftermath of Syria's dictatorship, families struggle to find their children who were taken by the state. This report reveals how SOS Children's Villages International, a humanitarian organization, became implicated in the unjust separation of children from their detained parents during the civil war. The investigation sheds light on the charity's questionable practices and its ties to the Assad regime, leaving many parents like Reem al-Kari searching in vain for their lost sons and daughters.
In Syria, the search for missing children who were separated from their families during the brutal civil war continues. One poignant story is that of Reem al-Kari, who mourns her son Karim, who disappeared seven years ago. He is among over 3,700 missing children whose fates remain uncertain.
The children's shelter, Lahan Al Hayat, established with the help of the former First Lady Asma al-Assad, has been implicated in holding children of detained parents, often failing to reunite them with their families and instead using them as political bargaining chips. Reports suggest that many children were incorrectly claimed as orphans, making their identification and repatriation to families arduous.
Investigations spearheaded by the BBC, alongside organizations like Lighthouse Reports, have unveiled a chilling account of children's disappearances linked to SOS Children's Villages International. This Austria-based charity, which raised substantial funds, faced allegations from whistleblowers regarding its operations in Syria during the war, particularly the manner in which it admitted and processed children without proper documentation.
Amidst the chaos of political upheaval, families are left to navigate a convoluted system of orphanages and misinformation, often receiving no assistance from authorities. Children’s records were often falsified or lost, leaving families like Reem's endlessly searching.
Despite SOS's claims of no direct ties with the Assad regime, former staff recount a troubling history of the charity's compliance with Syrian authorities, resulting in the tragic disappearance of many innocent children. Former executive statements highlight that the charity prioritized securing funding over ensuring the safety and integrity of the children's admissions.
Amid ongoing oscillations in regime control and scarce information, Reem and many others remain locked in a heart-wrenching limbo, clinging to hope as they search for answers about their missing loved ones. The struggle illuminates a broader narrative of state-sponsored disappearances and the dire implications of humanitarian organizations operating in conflict zones.
