Over 100 Maldivians in conflict zones, govt says
"Most of the victims are infants. They are children who have been exposed to such a thing without any say of their own," he said.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihsan on Tuesday said that about 100 Maldivians who went to participate in the ongoing wars in different parts of the world are still in such places.
21 people who went to Syria to participate in the civil war have been brought back to Maldives this Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference held at Iskandhar Koshi on Tuesday, Ihsan said the people were brought back to Maldives after confirming their identity.
“We are receiving information that more than 100 people believed to be Maldivians are abroad,” he said.
The minister said it was not yet clear who they are. Work is now underway to ascertain their whereabouts and find ways to contact them, he said.
The information is being confirmed and the children are being ensured that they are Maldivian, as was done to bring back the people who were brought back this time, he said.
"Most of the victims are infants. They are children who have been exposed to such a thing without any say of their own," he said.
Intelligence reports indicate that there are already people in Maldives who intend to go to the war zones, he said, adding that the information of such people should be shared with the relevant authorities.
The people brought to Maldives on Tuesday have been brought after their DNA tests have been conducted to confirm that they are Maldivians. After being brought back to Maldives, they will be given the necessary treatment before being released back into society. They have been taken to the Reintegration Center in K. Himmafushi.
