How Global Charity SOS Children's Villages Played a Role in Syrian Child Disappearances

Mon Sep 15 2025 13:10:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the aftermath of the Assad regime in Syria, mothers and whistleblowers reveal troubling connections between SOS Children's Villages and the fate of thousands of missing children.

Amidst the collapse of the Assad regime, investigations reveal that SOS Children's Villages International has been linked to the disappearance of over 3,700 children. Many families are still searching for their kids, with disturbing accounts highlighting the charity's controversial practices during the civil war. Reports suggest that the charity, funded by international donations, failed to safeguard against the regime's manipulations, leaving many parents without answers as to the whereabouts of their children.

Reem al-Kari and her cousin Lama are searching through dozens of photos of children spread out on a desk. Lama thinks she spots one with a likeness to Karim, Reem's missing son. Karim was two-and-a-half when he and his father disappeared in 2013 during Syria's civil war, as they ran an errand. He is one of more than 3,700 children still missing since the fall of the Assad dictatorship.

Recently, investigations by the BBC and other media organizations unveiled the involvement of SOS Children's Villages International, an Austria-based charity that has been operating in Syria. Allegations suggested that the charity was complicit in allowing the regime to separate children from their families, often using them as political pawns.

According to whistleblowers, the charity modified its intake policies during the Syrian civil war, prioritizing the increase of orphans to attract more funding. Data compiled from leaked documents has revealed that SOS took in children without proper documentation, at times changing their identities, thus complicating efforts for families to identify and reclaim their missing children.

Families like that of Omama Ghbeis highlight the devastating impact of these actions. After being imprisoned, she learned that her daughters, Layla and Layan, had been taken in by SOS Syria. Their names were changed, and contact with the outside world was restricted. Omama's anguish was palpable as she recounted her struggle to find them, only to discover that their fates had been entwined with the charity while she was powerless.

While SOS Children's Villages claims to have ceased admitting children of political detainees, documentation has surfaced suggesting this practice continued as late as 2022. The investigation underscores an urgent need for accountability as families are left in the dark, desperately seeking their loved ones amidst a backdrop of bureaucratic negligence and systemic oppression.

As Reem continues her search for Karim, she echoes a sentiment felt by many parents: the desperate quest for answers in a climate where children’s lives have been manipulated for funding and political leverage. The road to justice remains elusive, as the fallout from the Assad regime's tragic legacy continues to impact countless families.