At least 8,000 individuals were reported missing in war-torn Sudan during 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated on Wednesday.
The ICRC cautioned that this figure likely represents only “the tip of the iceberg.”
Daniel O’Malley, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan, told AFP that these are just the cases directly collected by the organization.
He emphasized that the actual number of missing persons is undoubtedly far greater.
As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, the ICRC is not only tracing missing individuals but also strengthening Sudan’s forensic capabilities.
This effort aims to identify victims in the future and ensure their dignified burial.
O’Malley stressed the lasting pain of uncertainty for families of the missing, describing it as an “open wound” that can persist long after the war concludes.
Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023, has caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced 13 million people, creating what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The fighting involves Abdel Fattah al-Burhan-led forces against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
Recent weeks have seen intense battles in the Darfur region, with the UN reporting over 400 deaths in attacks on El-Fasher and nearby camps.
O’Malley expressed deep concern over the situation in El-Fasher, urging all parties to guarantee safe passage for civilians.