In the chaos that reigned during the Syrian civil war, many families were torn apart, with children disappearing without a trace. One mother, Reem al-Kari, searches desperately for her son Karim, who vanished alongside his father in 2013. The fate of thousands remains uncertain as investigations reveal that humanitarian crises have intersected with political manipulation.
Organizations like SOS Children's Villages International, which operates in over 130 countries, have come under intense scrutiny for their practices in Syria. Whistleblowers allege that in a bid to increase funding, the charity accepted children without adequate vetting, many of whom were of detained parents. As the Assad regime fell, documentation and access to information about these children became available, revealing a complex web of orphanages and hidden identities.
The BBC, in collaboration with several media outlets, has launched a database that collects information on hundreds of children reportedly kidnapped by the regime. Disturbingly, testimonies suggest the organization connived with the state, allowing political agendas to dictate the treatment and records management of these children.
As mothers like Reem grapple with their children's absence, a new investigative initiative launched by Syria's Social Affairs Ministry has yet to yield substantial answers. And although SOS claims to not have any direct links to the Assad family, the influence of regime-affiliated personnel raises questions about the integrity of their operations.
The haunting stories of families disrupted by war illustrate a broader humanitarian catastrophe, urging an international response and accountability for those still searching for their missing children.
Organizations like SOS Children's Villages International, which operates in over 130 countries, have come under intense scrutiny for their practices in Syria. Whistleblowers allege that in a bid to increase funding, the charity accepted children without adequate vetting, many of whom were of detained parents. As the Assad regime fell, documentation and access to information about these children became available, revealing a complex web of orphanages and hidden identities.
The BBC, in collaboration with several media outlets, has launched a database that collects information on hundreds of children reportedly kidnapped by the regime. Disturbingly, testimonies suggest the organization connived with the state, allowing political agendas to dictate the treatment and records management of these children.
As mothers like Reem grapple with their children's absence, a new investigative initiative launched by Syria's Social Affairs Ministry has yet to yield substantial answers. And although SOS claims to not have any direct links to the Assad family, the influence of regime-affiliated personnel raises questions about the integrity of their operations.
The haunting stories of families disrupted by war illustrate a broader humanitarian catastrophe, urging an international response and accountability for those still searching for their missing children.
