JBN NEWS ■ Three Indonesian children met by BBC journalists at Al-Hol camp in Northeast Syria said they did not know where to go and might temporarily stay in Syria.
"My parents and my siblings are dead ... I don't know where I want to go. I will stay here," said the child who claimed to be named Yusuf. Faruk, another Indonesian boy in Al-Hol, said he lost his parents when the last village controlled by the ISIS group, Baghuz, was attacked by an anti-ISIS coalition.
"There was a rocket attack. I didn't know [what should I do]. I ran ... and after that I never saw my family again," Faruk said.
Nasa, an Indonesian boy who is also in Baghuz, tells the same story.
"The plane dropped bombs ... people disappeared, then I found Faruk," Nasa said.
In the village of Baghuz, Syria, Nasa witnessed the village in a bomb and after that he lost his family.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security, Mahfud MD, said that children of Indonesian citizens under the age of former ISIS could be returned to Indonesia, with certain considerations.
He explained that there would not be one policy in common, and each case would be treated differently.
Terrorism observers say the children of former ISIS citizens in Syria will not be a risk if repatriated, especially if they are scouted by the government.
Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) researcher Sidney Jones called on the government to repatriate orphans from camps in Syria gradually.
He said it was important because in that place, children witnessed intimidation and violence. In fact, added Sidney, the place was not appropriate in terms of health as well as sanitation. (BBC / R-1)
@JBN NEWS | Jaringan Berita Nasional
