Australian Red Cross highlights concerning increases in number of missing persons globally due to conflict, disaster or violence during migration

Today on the International Day of the Disappeared, Australian Red Cross is highlighting a concerning 20 per cent increase¹ in the number of new enquiries opened by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Restoring Family Links program – a global service helping people find family members who are missing due to conflict, disaster, or migration.

Globally, this 20 per cent increase means between 2021 and 2023, the Restoring Family Links program opened more than 177,000 new cases to find missing persons with a key driver being due to the increasing number of armed conflicts around the world.

In Australia, the Restoring Family Links program has been offered since 1915, with more than 2,700 cases registered between 2021-2023.

Australian Red Cross Head of Migration Development, Nicole Batch, said, “In the chaos of armed conflict, disaster or violence, families can become separated in a matter of minutes.

“It can take years for some people to find out the fate of their children, spouses, parents or other family members. Even more upsetting is that some never reunite – the impact of which can be devastating.

“Although between 2021-2023, the Restoring Family Links program has located more than 38,000 people, facilitated more than six million unifying phone calls and delivered over half a million messages of connection, the International Day of the Disappeared is a reminder of how important it is to stand in solidarity with the families of missing persons who continue their searches,” she said.

To find out more about the Restoring Family Links program, please visit the Find My Family: Restoring Family Links page on the Australian Red Cross website redcross.org.au or contact the Program hotline on 1800 875 199 (free call from a landline).

¹Restoring Family Links Data, 2021-2023.

Media inquiries: media@redcross.org.au or 1800 733 443

About the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Restoring Family Links Program

Every year, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Restoring Family Links program helps to account for, restore contact between, trace or reunite thousands of family members who lost contact or went missing because of armed conflict, situations of violence or disasters or in the context of migration. With an average of 21 people reunited with their families every day, the global program offering is delivered through the support of the Movement’s 192 National Societies, including the Australian Red Cross.

As well as the restoring family links program, in times of conflict the International Committee of the Red Cross engages all parties to a conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and to enable the Red Cross to undertake its impartial and neutral humanitarian role. To find out more visit the Australian Red Cross website redcross.org.au