SYRIA - 29 December 2025

“We stand by them until their family bonds are restored” - Q&A with Mr. Fateh Al Abbasi on Syria’s reunification efforts

A year after the fall of the Assad regime, SOS Children’s Villages Syria continues the complex work of tracing children separated from their families and supporting reunification. Mr. Fateh Al Abbasi, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Syria, shares how the past year has shaped the organization’s work, what progress has been achieved, and how trust with families and institutions is being rebuilt.  

Why is the one-year mark of the fall of the Assad regime important for SOS Children’s Villages Syria?

The end of systemic repression and fear marked a human and social turning point at every level — for us and for Syria as a whole. Under the regime, security authorities forcibly separated many children from their parents and placed them into care, including at SOS Children’s Villages. We condemn these practices categorically. We have acknowledged that the decisions we took during that time did not meet the standards we hold ourselves to. We have learned from these failures and are turning these lessons into action, driven by profound compassion for the children and families who have suffered.

The fall of the authoritarian regime created the possibility of genuine cooperation with national authorities and local and international partners, allowing us to work in an environment of greater openness and transparency. We are finally able to investigate the facts regarding compulsory indeterminate placement of children, a process that was impossible under the former regime’s control. Tracing and reunification efforts initiated after the regime’s fall have yielded tangible results, restoring hope to dozens of families searching for their children.

We express our profound compassion for the families who have endured the anguish of being forcibly separated from their children. The pain and suffering they have experienced serve as a fundamental driving force behind our work, which is dedicated to upholding our humanitarian and ethical commitment to society. With unwavering resolve, we stand by them until their family bonds are restored and hope is rekindled.

What progress has been made in tracing and reunifying the children separated from their families during the conflict?

To date, 105 children out of 140* have been successfully traced and verified to be with their families. This progress is the result of successful collaboration with authorities and stakeholders at both local and international levels, demonstrating that tracing efforts are advancing steadily toward the ultimate goal of ensuring that children remain in the care of their families. For families who have spent years searching for answers, each confirmed case is more than a data point — it means a child is back at home with their family and able to rebuild the bonds they need to grow up safe and thrive.

Beyond progress in tracing, what other steps has SOS Children’s Villages Syria taken over the past year?

Over the past year, SOS Children’s Villages Syria’s work in child protection, family reunification, and governance has resulted in several key outcomes, including:

• Replacing the former administration and adopting a new approach based on transparency, accountability, and cooperation.
• Building new channels of communication and strengthening trust with the relevant authorities and stakeholders, both locally and internationally.
• Initiating a comprehensive review of documents, alongside systematic data analysis.
• Improving data collection and verification mechanisms, which narrowed the scope of searches and produced faster, more accurate results.
• Expanding local and international partnerships to support tracing efforts, ensuring sustainability and the provision of necessary resources.

What is the current status of the undocumented cases identified in during the comprehensive records review?

During the comprehensive review of records, several cases were identified that required further verification. Our team has worked systematically to investigate these cases by gathering information from multiple sources, including local authorities and surrounding communities. So far, the status of a significant portion of these cases has been clarified, confirming their family connections, while tracing efforts for some remain ongoing. These files are treated as a top priority due to their sensitivity, and we are working diligently to close any data gaps to ensure that no child remains outside the scope of tracing or protection.

What have been the main challenges in the tracing and verification process both operationally and contextually?

For many families, the greatest challenge has been the prolonged uncertainty and emotional toll of not knowing the fate of their children. The process was also often distressing for people who had to recall past painful personal experiences. Against this backdrop, SOS Children’s Villages Syria encountered a range of complex challenges, including:

• Limited information available about children, making tracing more difficult and time-consuming.
• The need to trace cases across the country, requiring additional resources and posing logistical risks.
• Significant time gaps between placement and tracing processes, making it difficult to track official documents and changes in family residences
• Insufficient coordination with certain stakeholders, with some requests receiving no formal responses, delaying appropriate action.
• Security and logistical challenges in conflict-affected areas, limiting safe access for our teams.

How are we working with authorities and partners to advance tracing, verification and reunification?

Following the change in leadership at SOS Children’s Villages Syria, we adopted a policy of absolute transparency and full cooperation in tracing operations, supporting positive relations with national authorities and local and global partners.

The association has hosted numerous official and oversight bodies, as well as international investigative teams, ensuring close coordination in tracing and verification processes. Collaboration was also strengthened with the Committee for Uncovering the Fate of the Sons and Daughters of Detainees set up by the Ministry of Social Affair and Labour to trace missing children.

How has the past year shaped SOS Children’s Villages Syria’s long-term vision for child protection and family reunification in the country?

The past year has fundamentally reaffirmed our commitment to protecting children’s rights and keeping families together. The long-term vision is grounded in strict adherence to admission standards, with no compromise on child rights or care and protection principles. Transparency and accountability within the team and administration remain central to this vision. Legal and coordinated collaboration with government bodies and the ministry is being strengthened, alongside efforts to address past shortcomings through tracing and corrective measures.

Above all, this experience has deepened our resolve to ensure that every child grows up safe and connected to their family, and that families who have endured long periods of uncertainty are met with dignity, care, and continued support.

* Separate from the previously reported 139 children, one additional child was placed into care in 2020 following a direct order from the authorities. This placement was an exception, and the classification of the case was previously disputed. The child was reunified with their family in 2022 under further instruction.