During the Syrian civil war, thousands of children were separated from their parents and placed in various orphanages and institutions. In some cases, they were not handed over to relatives, but had their documents changed and were kept in unfamiliar places. Even today, many families remain unaware if their children are alive or not.
According to an investigation by the BBC and international partner organizations, at least 323 children were secretly separated from their relatives. One of the organizations that took in the largest number of children was SOS Children’s Villages International, based in Austria. Former employees say children’s identities were altered there and contact with families was forbidden.
The organization has partly denied these accusations but expressed “regret” over the fate of the children. SOS leadership announced it would launch an independent investigation into the unlawful separation of children from parents in Syrian institutions.
Meanwhile, hundreds of mothers continue their search, moving from one institution to another in hopes of finding their children. Syria’s new government has also begun an investigation, but due to lack of resources, results are still not visible.
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