Maldives Repatriates Mother and Daughter Stranded in Türkiye After Travelling to Conflict Zones

The government has repatriated a 14-year-old girl and her mother to the Maldives as part of ongoing efforts to reintegrate Maldivians who travelled to conflict zones and later became stranded there.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office today, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had called on Maldivians who travelled abroad to participate in wars, as well as their families who later became stranded, to return to the Maldives.

The minister said the government is working to bring such individuals back to the country and place them in programmes designed to support their reintegration into society.

He noted that authorities are currently working to repatriate around 60 Maldivians believed to have been in two areas of Syria and who need to be evacuated.

During these efforts, officials also learned of three Maldivians in a similar situation in Türkiye.

According to the minister, the individuals had travelled to countries experiencing active conflict before later moving to Türkiye, where they subsequently became stranded. The Turkish authorities detained them and informed the Maldivian government that they wished for the individuals to be repatriated.

Ihusaan said the government worked with several organisations to facilitate the process.

As a result, a 14-year-old girl and her mother have now been returned to the Maldives and are receiving services at the National Reintegration Services programme. The minister did not disclose any details about the other Maldivian in Türkiye.

The minister added that the government had previously reintegrated 23 individuals who had been in similar circumstances.