The International Committee of the Red Cross is searching for 50,000 people reported missing due to the Ukraine conflict, according to Duschan Wujanaschin, head of the office for military special operations of the international organization, as stated in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency. The number of missing persons has, in his view, continued to rise.
“Since February 2024, the number of open missing persons cases – people sought by their families – has more than doubled and has reached almost 50,000. Unfortunately, this number continues to rise” Wujanaschin said.
He added that the number of monthly inquiries has increased from around 1,000 per month to 5,000 in recent months, likely due to the fact that families are receiving more information about how to contact the office.
The Red Cross opened a central search office in March 2022 in relation to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The office serves as a neutral mediator between the conflicting parties, collecting, systematizing and transmitting information on the fate and whereabouts of missing military personnel and civilians.