Australian women trapped in Syria IS camp appeals to government for help

Australian women held in a camp for relatives of Islamic State group fighters in Syria have appealed to the Australian government for help as regime and Turkish forces close in.

One of the women, Mariam Dabbousy, is a mother of three. In a recording given to ABC by her father, she told the Australian government: "Please don't let us fall into the hands of the [Syrian] regime."

"If this happens that's it for us. That's it for my kids."

Kurdish authorities have offered to transfer the Australians to the border with Iraq so they can be repatriated by Australia, Save The Children's Australia branch said.

"If a decision is made to repatriate Australian citizens, it certainly can be done," acting chief executive Mat Tinkler told reporters in Australian city of Canberra on Tuesday.

"But let's be very clear: the fate of innocent children is in the hands of the government of Australia right now and the time to act is running out and running out rapidly."

The Australian women are currently in Al-Hol camp, where conditions have deteriorated since the United States announced its withdrawal from northern Syria, effectively giving a green light to Turkey to move in on Kurdish positions.

Dabbousy's father, Kammalle Dabbousy, told reports on Tuesday that "there is no other support for the Australian women in that environment at all".

"The only avenue for their survival really is through the Australian government and sooner or later there will be a death in the camp."

Canberra passed legislation in July barring Australian citizens who have fought for the Islamic State from returning home for up to two years under so-called "temporary exclusion orders".

The fate of foreign fighters and their families was a significant problem for governments as the conflict against IS drew to a close. With the incursion of Turkish troops triggering a renewed upheaval in the region, the issue has come to the forefront once again.

The international community has expressed their concern that Ankara's "Operation Peace Spring" could allow for a resurgence of IS as fighters escape from Kurdish-held prisons amid the fighting.

Kurdish authorities said on Sunday that 800 IS family members being held in a camp at Ain Issa in northern Syria had fled due to Turkish bombing. 

Around 12,000 IS fighters - Syrians, Iraqis as well as foreigners from 54 countries - are being held in Kurdish-run prisons in northern Syria according to Kurdish sources.

The sources say a further 12,000 foreigners - 4,000 women and 8,000 children - are being held in camps for the displaced.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to prevent IS fighters leaving northeast Syria.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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