A chartered flight from Beond Airline brought back twenty-one members of five Maldivian families who had previously joined the Syrian war. The Home Minister, Ali Ihusan, disclosed that the cost of the repatriation was approximately MVR 1.8 million Following a press conference at Iskandharu Koshi, the minister highlighted that Beond Airline provided a more economical option compared to other carriers, prompting the decision to choose their services.
The group of 21 Maldivians, which included one man, five women, and 15 children, arrived in the Maldives this morning after transiting through Turkey. Shedding light on the repatriation operation during a media briefing, Minister Ihusan mentioned that over 90 Maldivians in Syria expressed a desire to return home. Notably, a number of Maldivians had previously traveled to join Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda during the time when these organizations controlled parts of Syria. Despite the challenges and losses faced by some individuals and families in the conflict, many Maldivians continue to reside in refugee camps in Syria.
