International Red Cross: The fate of the missing in Syria requires collective cooperation and ongoing efforts

On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed today, Friday, that knowing the fate of tens of thousands of missing persons in Syria requires continuous coordination between the families of the victims and local and international entities, including humanitarian organizations, authorities, civil society, and donors.

In a statement received by the official "SANA" agency, the committee emphasized the need to intensify collective efforts to address the plight of thousands of families who have lived for years in anxiety and waiting without knowing the fate of their loved ones, noting that it has recorded more than 37,000 cases of disappearance over the past fourteen years, a figure that does not reflect the true scale of the tragedy.

The head of the committee's mission in Syria, Stefan Sakalian, said: "Behind every case of disappearance is a family living a pain that increases over time. Their right to know is a fundamental humanitarian principle," reaffirming the committee's commitment to stand by them and provide psychological and emergency support in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The committee also clarified that it supports the National Center for Identification and Crimes in Damascus by providing equipment and technical training, along with supporting initiatives of the National Authority for the Missing, aiming to build a transparent and coordinated response for families, excluding entities involved in cases of enforced disappearance, in compliance with international humanitarian law.

The International Day of the Disappeared, which falls on the thirtieth of August, is an occasion to highlight one of the most complex and ongoing humanitarian issues and to express solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy.