NAIROBI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday that more than 71,000 people are currently missing across Africa, marking a 75 percent increase since 2019 due to armed conflict, violence, natural disasters and migration.
"Behind every missing person, there are countless more suffering from the anguish and uncertainty. It's a humanitarian tragedy for families, one that has consequences across all of society," said Patrick Youssef, ICRC's regional director for Africa, in a statement from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi ahead of the International Day of the Disappeared, observed on Aug. 30.
Youssef said that the issue of missing persons, including those forcibly disappeared, remains one of the most devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impacts of conflict and violence. Africa has the highest number of missing persons, unaccompanied children and family reunifications, based on ICRC-registered cases as of June.
"In armed conflict, both civilians and combatants go missing. They can go missing when they are arrested or captured, detained, and held incommunicado. They might be alive, but simply do not have the means to contact their relatives," Youssef said.
Under international humanitarian law, state authorities are primarily responsible for clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. However, limited resources, knowledge, or political will often hinder their efforts, according to the ICRC. Therefore, the ICRC and national societies play a crucial role in bridging these gaps.
The International Day of the Disappeared raises awareness of the plight of missing persons, honors their memory and acknowledges the emotional toll on families. The ICRC called for stronger international efforts to prevent and address the issue of missing persons, regardless of the circumstances.
"Political will is an essential step to obtain the necessary resources to respond to this issue, including the cooperation between authorities, both at the national level and across borders," it said.
It said volunteers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Red Cross have been working at telephone call centers set up by the ICRC to offer a fast, free service to the many displaced people who have lost contact with their families.
The ICRC, in partnership with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, provides a hotline to help families and unaccompanied children separated by conflict to restore contact, it said. ■