Reem al-Kari and her cousin Lama are searching through dozens of photos of children spread out on a desk, desperately seeking a resemblance to Karim, Reem's missing son.
Karim was two-and-a-half when he disappeared in 2013, one of more than 3,700 children missing since the fall of the Assad regime. Recent investigations have revealed the disturbing role of SOS Children's Villages International in these disappearances.
Founded with the aim of providing care for orphans, SOS has been implicated in holding children of detained parents as political pawns. Many children were falsely recorded as orphans or had their identities changed, complicating future attempts at reunification with their families.
The BBC, in collaboration with investigative media, has compiled a database revealing that SOS was involved in the admission of many such children. Reports indicate that the organization had direct links to the Assad regime, with former employees claiming that senior positions were filled at the behest of the government.
SOS Children's Villages refutes these claims, asserting that they do not financially incentivize orphan admissions. Nonetheless, internal reviews have revealed that children were admitted without proper documentation, raising concerns about accountability.
As families continue to search for their missing children, many mothers like Reem face bureaucratic obstacles with little to no support from charitable organizations that failed to safeguard their interests while operating under a dictatorial regime.
As the situation in Syria evolves, the most pressing need remains restoring these families and securing justice for children still lost in a country deeply scarred by civil war.
