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.
