Uzbekistan successfully reintegrates hundreds of women and children returned from conflict zones

Uzbekistan has successfully returned more than 530 of its citizens from war-torn regions in the Middle East and Afghanistan through a series of humanitarian efforts known as the Mehr (Compassion) operations. Around 75% of those brought back to the country are children.

The initiative began on May 30, 2019, under the direct instructions of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The inaugural mission resulted in the evacuation of 156 Uzbek citizens, predominantly women and children, from Syria. This was followed by subsequent missions to rescue individuals from Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, with Mehr–2 carried out in October 2019, Mehr–3 in December 2020, and Mehr–4 in February 2021.

The final phase, Mehr–5, was executed in April 2021, bringing home 92 individuals, including 24 women and 68 children, from Syria.

All repatriated individuals have been provided with legal identification documents. Children born in the conflict zones received official birth certificates from the Republic of Uzbekistan to ensure their legal status and access to state resources.

Rather than being isolated, the returned children have been integrated into regular school classrooms alongside their peers. The reintegration program has yielded positive academic outcomes, with around 10 repatriates currently pursuing higher education, and 9 children winning medals in regional and national academic Olympiads.