Where are they? Searching for missing persons and meeting their families’ needs
The impact of missing persons on families is one of the most damaging and long-lasting effects of armed conflict.
People go missing in Africa during armed conflicts, other situations of violence, disasters and in the context of migration. In addition to missing persons themselves, their families bear the brunt of the trauma. Through coordinated action, governments can ensure family links are preserved or re-established and reduce the impact on society. This report draws on the ICRC activities with families, authorities and other actors to deal with the problem of missing persons and their relatives.
About the authors
Ottilia Anna Maunganidze is the Head of Special Projects at the ISS. She works on institutional strategy, human security, international law and emerging trends and policy.
The ICRC team that co-authored this report comprised experts on missing persons, international humanitarian law, and operations in Africa.
Image: ICRC
