Over 71,000 People Missing Across Africa, ICRC Reports

Over 71,000 People Missing Across Africa, ICRC Reports

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that over 71,000 people across Africa are currently registered as missing. This represents a 75% increase since 2019, making Africa the continent with the highest number of missing persons, unaccompanied children, and family reunifications according to the ICRC’s latest data as of the end of June.

In a statement released on Friday, Patrick Youssef, ICRC’s regional director for Africa, highlighted the emotional toll of this crisis. “The issue of missing persons, including those forcibly disappeared, is one of the most devastating humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and violence,” Youssef said. “Behind each missing person are countless loved ones enduring unbearable anguish and uncertainty.”

The ICRC attributed the rise in disappearances to protracted conflicts, climate-induced natural disasters, and perilous migration journeys that often result in separation and disappearance. Many families have been left without answers, as efforts to locate their missing relatives have been hindered by resource shortages, lack of political will, and cross-border complexities.

The International Day of the Disappeared, observed on August 30, aims to raise awareness about the plight of the missing and urges more concerted international efforts to address this humanitarian crisis. Youssef noted that both civilians and combatants go missing during armed conflicts, often without any way to contact their families.

Nigeria has seen a particularly high number of disappearances, with the ICRC registering around 24,000 people as missing, many of whom are children. The Red Cross has been working to reunite families, provide mental health support, and offer legal and financial assistance to those affected, particularly in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.

The ICRC continues to call on authorities at both national and international levels to prioritize this issue and enhance their cooperation to prevent further disappearances and clarify the fate of the missing.