Documenting the fate of the missing
Governments and civil society must do more to document the fate and
whereabouts of people who disappear in conflicts or other circumstances
and give strong support to the families left behind, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement.
"Whether someone has disappeared during war, or migration or a
disaster, the suffering of the families remains," said Marianne Pecassou,
who heads the ICRC's team working on the missing.
"It's essential to collect information that is available today on
people who disappear, how and where they have disappeared, that might be
useful at some point in time to bring answers to the families," noted
Pecassou, in the ICRC statement issued to mark the International Day of
the Disappeared (August 30).
 But providing answers takes a long time and is often not possible
while a conflict is still ongoing. For some families, there might never
be a definitive answer. And in the meantime, families have a range of
needs for support. "All too often, especially in conflict situations,
the problem of the missing is just not on the radar.
Governments and other actors need to make sure it is on the agenda
and do more to address the practical and emotional needs of the
families," Pecassou noted.
The disappearance of a loved one may leave the family without
economic support and often they will have to use their dwindling
resources in search of their missing relative.
In many cases, the family does not want to declare a missing person
dead, and for example, they can't access the person's property or
salary," says Pecassou. Families also suffer on an emotional and social
level - they might experience isolation, sadness and marginalization and
often need long-term support to overcome these difficulties and regain
control of their lives.
The ICRC offers support of various kinds, ranging from economic
security programs to help families find new livelihoods, to legal and
administrative advice to emotional care and help with trying to find out
the facts and ways of remembering their missing loved ones.
-ICRC |
