About a decade ago, as the Assad regime focused on crushing an uprising that challenged its rule in Syria, it faced an unexpected problem: too many children in detention. These children were swept up when their mothers were arrested during the crackdown. An NPR investigation revealed that hundreds of these children were separated from their families and placed in orphanages around Damascus by government intelligence agents. The regime ordered these orphanages to keep this operation secret.
Now, with the Assad regime no longer in power, families are searching for their missing children in the Syrian capital. The emotional toll on these families is immense, as they seek answers about their children’s fate and hope to reunite with them.
The story of Syria’s lost children highlights a tragic chapter in the country’s recent history. It raises questions about human rights abuses and the long-term impact of such actions on innocent lives caught in the crossfire of conflict.