SOS Children’s Villages continues supporting children in Syria during transition

This is an ongoing effort. We will update the information and details below as the situation develops.

Latest update—12  March 2025

SOS Children’s Villages reaffirms its commitment to supporting children without or at risk of losing parental care during Syria’s current political transition.

We acknowledge concerns about children placed in care organizations, including SOS Children’s Villages Syria, by the former government. During the war, many children were unnecessarily separated from their families and placed in alternative care services by the authorities without proper documentation of their origins.

Between 2013 and 2018, SOS Children's Villages in Syria provided support to 689 children through interim alternative care programs as part of our humanitarian response for children who had lost parental care. According to a preliminary review of records, 139 of these children lacked proper documentation and were placed in interim alternative care at SOS Children’s Villages Syria. In that period, 81 stayed for less than three months. Ultimately, all 139 children were accounted for: 104 were returned to the authorities, 34 were reunited with their families and one child was referred to a disability center. Thirteen of the 34 children were of Russian citizenship and were reunited with their families in Russia.  

These placements were primarily part of our humanitarian response program during the war, aimed at protecting unaccompanied and separated children, and some were imposed upon us by the authorities at the time. While in our care, the children received support consistent with our principles of safety and well-being.

We regret the untenable situation we found ourselves in when receiving the children and unequivocally disapprove of such practices, as children should never be separated from their families unless it is in their best interest. We have been proactively addressing these issues since 2018.

In 2018, we demanded that the previous government stop placing children in our care without proper documentation. Starting in 2020, SOS Children's Villages Syria has been under the leadership of a new National Director. Since then, significant due diligence has been undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages to uphold transparency and integrity.

Since December 2024, we have asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to confirm that these children were safely reunited with family members. However, the ICRC was not involved in their repatriation. 

We deeply empathize with families searching for missing children and wish to support them however we can. During this political transition period, SOS Children’s Villages Syria has shared details of the above-mentioned children with the transitional government in Syria and the International Committee of the Red Cross to trace their families of origin. On January 6, 2025, a meeting took place with the interim Ministry of Social Affairs and SOS Children’s Villages Syria to establish a cooperative relationship to support family tracing.

Most significantly, we have commissioned a detailed review into past records. We expect the ongoing records review to provide further information and clarity on the children received without proper documentation and to assist children and families in being reunited. An external review is forthcoming to ensure transparency and provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the placement of children in our care during this period.

We have also received allegations that certain children may have been in our care. While our current data does not reflect any records to support these claims, we remain concerned. We have submitted an official request to the relevant authorities to initiate formal proceedings to investigate the matter and ensure that all facts are transparently reviewed. The investigation is currently ongoing.

SOS Children’s Villages Syria has operated in the country since 1975, navigating complex challenges during periods of significant political and social upheaval. Our work is guided solely by the best interests of children and young people, irrespective of their backgrounds or circumstances. Our purpose is to protect children, uphold their rights and ensure that each child grows up with the bonds they need to become their strongest selves. We work in alignment with international child rights law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

SOS Children’s Villages International does not align itself with any political entities or regimes. Across the more than 130 countries and territories where we operate, including SOS Children’s Villages Syria, we remain steadfast in our purpose and adhere to the same principles.

In Syria, we remain committed to working with the transitional government, national and international partners to trace families and support family reunification wherever possible, in line with international best practices. We will continue to do everything we can to maintain our operations in Syria by continuing to prioritize the safety and security of our staff, children and young people during this challenging time.