An 11-year-old Australian girl has collapsed due to malnutrition in a camp in north-east Syria, according to an aid group, which is calling on the federal government to urgently bring dozens of children and their mothers to Australia.
Save the Children deputy chief Mat Tinkler said the group learned of the young girl's condition in the al-Roj camp last week.
"Just last week, we received reports an 11-year-old Australian girl collapsed due to malnutrition and had to be attended to by ambulance medics," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
SBS News could not immediately verify her condition, but a source familiar with the situation told The Guardian she had stabilised after receiving medical attention - but remained "fragile".
According to Save the Children, more than 40 Australian children and their mothers remain at al-Roj, an internally-displaced person and refugee camp situated close to the Iraq border.
Last September, - another camp in north-east Syria - which was home to thousands of refugees stranded after the conflict with the so-called Islamic State.
Mr Tinkler said there are also reports of increasing violence inside al-Roj, fearing "it's a matter of time before an Australian child dies".
Kamalle Dabboussy, whose Australian daughter Mariam remains at the camp with her children, says conditions there continue to go from bad do worse.
"Mariam is always taking care of others, which means she can tend to put herself last," he told SBS News.
"Being in a camp in Syria for such a long time does impact your health and not a day goes by where I’m not worried about their wellbeing and their health."
The incident has prompted renewed calls for the Australian government to repatriate its citizens from the camp.
“The Australian children are innocent and should not be left in these camps. They belong in Australia and our government should urgently repatriate the children and their mothers," Mr Tinkler said.
"What's missing is political will," he said.
Mr Dabboussy has been involved in talks with Save the Children and government officials to find a solution.
“The dialogue continues with government but at some stage it needs to move from dialogue into action – and it’s stuck at the dialogue stage," he said.
“The health of the children and their mothers continues to deteriorate and there’s a very real concern a child will die before the government repatriates them.”
The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.
The Australian government its ability to provide consular assistance to Australians in both Syria and Iraq was limited due to the dangerous security situation.
It has also expressed concern that women in the camps could retain radicalised views, with some former brides of IS fighters.
During a Senate estimates hearing earlier this month, Greens Senator Janet Rice asked whether the Australian government is considering the offer of support from US and Kurdish officials to move its citizens from the camps to the Iraqi border.
Roger Noble, Australia's ambassador for counter-terrorism, said the government's policy on repatriation is predicated on the protection of Australians and the Australian community.
"It looks at repatriation on a case-by-case basis," he replied.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Australian government was "absolutely crystal clear" in "consistently warning Australians that supporting or joining terrorist groups in Syria or elsewhere put lives at risk - their own and others".
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said during recent Senate Estimates hearings the government is concerned about the welfare of Australians in IDP camps in Syria. Source: AAP
"Notwithstanding that, we understand the extremely difficult circumstances, and we are concerned about the welfare of Australians in IDP camps in Syria, and their children," she said.
"But it is a very dangerous and unpredictable region. We're talking to our international partners. Yes, in answer to your question, we are talking to humanitarian agencies about the environment on the ground."
