Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan says Maldivian authorities have today brought back 5 families stranded in war-torn Syria upon their request to return home.
He confirmed this during a press conference held today by the Ministry.
The Minister confirmed that the five families contained 21 individuals out of which 15 were children. Minister Ihusan said that the 21 Maldivians also included 1 man and 5 women.
He noted that the young child brought back was 3 years old.
The Minister clarified that none of the individuals were suffering from any illnesses and that their health assessments had been done.
Minister Ihusan also said that the individuals have now been handed over to the National Reintegration Center NRC and that individual assessments of the individuals would now be conducted before they are allowed to leave the center.
He assured that the government would make sure that none of the individuals brought back today would pose a danger to anyone in the Maldives.
Many Maldivians made the dangerous trip to Syria after a civil war broke out in the country back in 2014 with the intent to fight with rebel forces in Syria.
