Q: Much of the discourse in Syria focuses on thousands of children who were placed in interim care facilities, including SOS Children’s Villages, by the former regime. To what extent was SOS Children’s Villages involved in this?

A: What we can confirm is that between 2013 and 2018, government authorities placed some children in short-term care with SOS Children’s Villages – sometimes only for a few days - without following the regular referral process. These children were placed mostly in interim care centres, part of the humanitarian response programme that provided care for children impacted by the war.

We’ve conducted an in-depth internal records review and are about to commission an independent third-party to investigate the role of SOS Children’s Villages and the circumstances surrounding these children placed in our care.  

Our preliminary review of records found that 139 children without proper documentation were placed in interim alternative care at SOS Children’s Villages Syria between 2013 and 2018. Of these, 81 stayed for less than three months. Ultimately, all 139 children were accounted for as follows: 104 children were returned to the authorities, 34 children were reunited with their families and one child was referred to a disability centre. Thirteen of the 34 children were of Russian citizenship and reunited with their families in Russia, as confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria.

On January 6, 2025, SOS Children’s Villages in Syria met with the interim Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour to establish a cooperative relationship for enhancing family tracing efforts for those children whose whereabouts are unknown.  All information from our records review has been shared with the MInistry of Social Affairs. We also requested the Damascus prosecutor to investigate and are in contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
 

Q: A case getting attention in the media is that of Dr. Rania Al Abassi, who was imprisoned by the former regime in March 2013. There is speculation that her six children - who were taken at the same time - may have been brought to the SOS Children’s Village in Damascus. Do you have any information on them?

A: After reviewing all available records of children currently and formerly in our care, we have found no evidence that Rania Al Abassi’s children were ever placed in the care of SOS Children’s Villages. SOS Children’s Villages is fully committed to cooperating with all investigations to help the families, including the Al Abassi family, locate their children, and we have taken concrete steps to support this process.
 

Q: SOS Children’s Villages states that it does not align itself with any political entities or regimes, and in times of war and conflict, the organization follows the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality. If that is the case, how can you explain that SOS Children’s Villages Syria was used by the regime in this manner, housing the children of political detainees?

A: SOS Children’s Villages has been present in Syria since 1975, and our ability to care for vulnerable children in the country has always required cooperation with local authorities. During the war in Syria, the organization’s former management faced extremely difficult circumstances. The State authorities did not provide reasons why the children were separated. The dilemma the staff had to confront was receiving children without adequate documentation or leaving them at risk. The former management ultimately decided that the children would be better off in our care than elsewhere.

At SOS Children’s Villages, we are committed to providing care for and meeting the immediate needs of vulnerable children, even in challenging political and social environments. In war and conflict zones like Syria, where children’s needs are heightened, we make the active and moral choice to stay. Despite the complexities of working in such environments, we strive to provide the care and support these children need, considering that their well-being might otherwise be at greater risk without our services.
 

Q: Does this occur in other countries where SOS Children’s Villages runs programmes, or was it unique to Syria?

A: In every country where we operate – more than 130 worlwide - collaboration with communities and local authorities is essential. In the context of war and conflict, especially under authoritarian regimes, this can be extremely challenging. We choose to remain in complex socio-political environments because it is precisely in such environments that children need support more than ever.

During Syria’s war, our role was to provide care and meet the immediate needs of children who were unaccompanied or separated from their families. The referral of the children to our services was done by the State authorities. Everyone was working in a climate of fear, and we had an obligation to protect children who were referred to the humanitarian response programme. The decision to do so was made under immense pressure and in a context of an authoritarian regime. Through our investigations, we aim to understand the full implications of our actions. SOS Children’s Villages is committed to reflection and accountability for this decision.
 

Q: What actions have you taken to address this?

A: Since 2019, we did not receive children without documentation despite further attempts by the authorities. The emergency response programme, under which we provided short-term alternative care, was shut down, making it easier to deny children without proper documentation.

In 2020, the leadership transitioned to a new National Director, marking a turning point for SOS Children’s Villages Syria. Since then, significant measures have been taken to ensure transparency, integrity, and adherence to our core principles. SOS Children’s Villages Syria introduced stricter  policies to govern the admission of children as well as child safeguarding policies to ensure their safety and protection.
 

Q: What efforts, beyond collaborating with the new Ministry of Social Affairs and Damascus prosecutor is SOS Children’s Villages taking to identify these children and locate family for them?

A: We are currently identifying partners to ensure an independent investigation into this. Our funding member organization for SOS Children’s Villages Syria is also currently investigating the matter. SOS Children’s Villages Syria is cooperating with the interim Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross to trace families. We remain committed to supporting tracing efforts and reuniting families wherever possible.