Africa: Cases of Missing Persons Registered With ICRC Rise to 75% In Five Years, Says ICRC
By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
At Least 71,000 people across Africa are registered as missing with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a 75 per cent rise from the number recorded in 2019.
This was disclosed by the ICRC Communication Delegate, Yuxia Jiang in a press statement after marking a commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared, which is been observed on 30th August every year.
The event which was held by ICRC’s sub-delegation in Maiduguri yesterday was attended by the families of missing persons.
She explained that Africa is the continent with the highest missing persons caseload, the highest number of unaccompanied children, and the highest number of family reunifications, based on ICRC-registered cases as from the end of June.
While quoting Patrick Youssef, ICRC’s Regional Director for Africa, said: “The issue of missing persons, including those forcibly disappeared, remains one of the most damaging and long-lasting humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence, for all loved ones, whether a waiting wife or a heartbroken son.
“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.”
The ICRC is therefore calling for a more determined international effort to prevent and respond to the issue of missing persons, whatever the circumstances.
“In armed conflict, both civilians and combatants go missing. They can go missing when they are arrested or captured, detained, and are held incommunicado. They might be alive, but simply do not have the means to contact their relatives.” Said Youssef
He added that “under international humanitarian law, state authorities have the primary responsibility to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. However, these authorities may lack resources, knowledge, or political will to do so. The ICRC and the National Societies can play a crucial role.
“In Nigeria, the ICRC registered around 24,000 people as missing, which likely only represents a fraction of the total number. More than half of the total cases were children at the time they disappeared.
“In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, for example, volunteers from the Nigerian Red Cross have been working on delivering Red Cross Messages to many families who have lost contact with their loved ones due to the armed conflict. The ICRC provides the families with mental health support, legal advice and, in some cases, financial support”.
ENDS
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