Over 37,000 people registered as missing in Syria since 2011 – ICRC
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday that more than 37,000 individuals have been officially registered as missing in Syria over the past 14 years, stressing that the real number is likely far higher.
“The disappearance of a loved one is not just a personal tragedy; it is one of the most profound and lasting wounds of Syria’s conflict,” the ICRC said in a statement.
Stephan Sakalian, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, emphasized the importance of supporting affected families: “Behind every disappearance is a family living with pain that deepens with time.”
“Families of the missing deserve consistent and compassionate support in their search for answers and closure,” Sakalian said. “Their right to know is a fundamental humanitarian principle.”
The ICRC highlighted the resilience of families, citing a mother who continues to hope for the return of her two missing sons: “My grandson says, ‘I wish I could see my uncles and be like them.’ I still have hope that they will return one day.”
Tens of thousands of Syrians remain unaccounted for since the conflict erupted in 2011, with many subjected to enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, or abduction by various parties to the conflict.
Families of the missing have staged repeated vigils across the country, demanding truth and accountability. Human rights organizations describe the issue as one of the most urgent humanitarian challenges in Syria, with little progress made toward uncovering the fate of the disappeared.