Twenty-one members of five Maldivian families who went to join the Syrian war were brought back to Maldives today on a chartered flight from Beond Airline for about USD 120,000 (MVR 1.8 million), Home Minister Ali Ihusan has revealed.
Speaking to Adhadhu after a press conference at the Iskandharu Koshi today, the minister said Beond offered a cheaper rate compared to other airlines.
“That’s why they were brought on that flight,” he said.
The 21 Maldivians arrived this morning via Turkey. They include 15 children, five women and one man.
Briefing the media about the operation to repatriate them, Ihusan said more than 90 Maldivians in Syria wish to return home.
After medical checkups, the 21 people are due to be taken to a designated center later today. They will be released to society after undergoing rehabilitation at the center.
Several Maldivians traveled to join Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda when the organizations controlled parts of Syria. Some of them took their families and many people died but Maldivians still remain in refugee camps in Syria.
Efforts to bring back Maldivians in Syrian camps started under the previous government.
