Many people go missing in war, causing anguish and uncertainty for their families and friends. People have the right to know what has happened to their missing loved ones. Governments, armed forces and armed groups have an obligation to provide information on the fate of the missing and to help reunite families.
Every year on 30 August, we mark the International Day of the Disappeared to honor the countless people who have gone missing in the context of armed conflict, violence, migration or disaster - and the families left behind in anguish and uncertainty.
Around the world, families wait for news of their loved ones, sometimes for decades. They live suspended between hope and grief, searching for answers, and struggling with the daily pain of not knowing. This page brings together stories from around the world that reflect the human toll of disappearance, the resilience of families, and the work being done to uncover the fate of the missing and uphold families' right to know.
South Sudan: Families fractured by conflict
In South Sudan, decades of conflict and displacement continue to separate families and leave thousands without news of their loved ones. Nyakol was 18 when her older brother disappeared during fighting in Malakal in 2014. More than ten years later, her family continues to carry the burden of unanswered questions about his fate. Nafisa, a grandmother who fled neighboring Sudan in 2023, has not seen her seven-year-old grandson Ahmed since the chaos of their escape. Both women hold on to cherished memories, even as uncertainty weighs heavily on their families.
The legacy of conflict has torn apart hundreds of thousands of families across South Sudan and Sudan. As of June 2025, the ICRC and South Sudan Red Cross are handling more than 6,000 open cases of missing persons. Each clarified case brings a measure of peace, but for most families, the wait for answers goes on.
We continue this work in many countries including, Mexico, Philippines, Jordan, Ukraine and many others. Thank you for standing with us on the side of humanity.
