A relative of a missing person in south sudan pointing at a photo of her loved one (ICRC)
Juba (ICRC)— Today, on the International Day of the Disappeared, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) shares the findings of a recent study on the needs of South Sudanese families who live the anguish of not knowing the whereabouts of one or more of their family members.
"We hope that this report will not only enable a better response to the specific needs of these families but will also draw public attention to the unbearable suffering they endure. The tragedy of missing persons is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be forgotten easily, but can be prevented in the future," said Sophie Marsac who is in charge of the ICRC's program that helps people maintain contact with their loved ones.
The report titled "I did not know where to start" is based on 181 interviews with families of missing people, seven focus group discussions, and two additional interviews with people who had been previously counted as missing related to conflict, armed violence or other crisis. Its findings indicate that the priority needs for 86% of families of the missing in and outside South Sudan are to know what happened to their loved ones. In addition, 60% struggle to cope with mental health-related issues and 57% experience economic problems. Other difficulties include searching for the missing loved one, legal and administrative challenges, and the need for acknowledgment and justice.
"I feel it in my heart that my husband is alive. I still have hope."
"I hardly sleep, I am always thinking about him since he disappeared," said a Bentiu resident, whose husband has been missing since 2013.
The ICRC calls on the authorities to acknowledge the tragedy of missing people and the impact that it has on families and to do everything in their power to prevent people from going missing, take measures to search for those who are missing, and to provide information to families on the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.
For more information, please contact:
Ramin Hashempour – Communication and Prevention Coordinator: +211 912360038 / +211912360023
Okot Emmanuel Noah - Information Officer: +211 926077915 / +211 919451545
OR visit our website: www.icrc.org/ss / Twitter: @ICRC_SouthSudan / ICRC South Sudan Facebook
Newer articles:
- South Sudan president addresses graduates of first batch of unified forces - 31/08/2022 02:30
- East Africa could achieve better cooperation on criminal matters - 31/08/2022 02:03
- U.N. ship brings food relief from Ukraine to drought-hit Horn of Africa - 31/08/2022 01:00
- South Sudan to Graduate First Batch of Unified Forces Today - 30/08/2022 07:16
- Appeal from Bishop Yei: “Protection of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda from unlawful interference” - 30/08/2022 02:56
Older news items
- President El Sisi receives South Sudan's security advisor - 30/08/2022 01:21
- Lt Gen Subramanian takes command of of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in South Sudan - 30/08/2022 00:40
- Japan pledges $4.5 million to fund WFP emergency aid to Sudan displaced - 30/08/2022 00:16
- Thousands At Risk As World Food Programme Forced To Cut Aid To South Sudan - 29/08/2022 10:20
- FIBA 2023: South Sudan in key win over Egypt - 29/08/2022 10:19
Latest news items (all categories):
- Hope for Christmas gift as South Sudan talks return to Nairobi - 05/12/2024 10:26
- Chinese medical team brings relief to South Sudan patients - 05/12/2024 10:18
- Sudanese bishop speaks about being brutalized by soldiers - 05/12/2024 10:08
- President Biden: Absent Principles - No Honoring Words - Broken Promises - 05/12/2024 09:55
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan urged to end death penalty as evidence shows children among dead - 06/12/2018 23:04
- الاتفاق علي المصالح العليا لأمة شلو أمراً ضرورياً وحيوياً - 14/04/2011 01:00
- Security Sector Stabilization: A Prerequisite for Political Stability in South Sudan - 11/05/2018 15:13
- 150 treated for gunshot wounds in South Sudan - 21/02/2014 15:31
- New Nation must begins with new Faces - 15/07/2011 01:00
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58419 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22215 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21357 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18882 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 17995 times