Africa-Press – Eritrea. The UN raised alarm Thursday about the growing number of people missing due to armed conflict.
It warned that it poses a serious obstacle to sustainable peace.
“Since the adoption of the Security Council resolution 2474 in 2019, the number of people affected by armed conflict, including those reported missing in this context has only continued to increase,” Khaled Khiari, UN assistant secretary-general for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, told the Security Council. The resolution deals with those reported missing in armed conflict.
“In 2024 alone, the ICRC (International Committee for the Red Cross) registered 56,000 new cases of missing persons. There is no comprehensive figure for those missing in conflict, but we know enough that the situation is dire,” Khiari noted.
Stressing that unresolved cases can fuel post-conflict recovery efforts, he said: “When the issue of missing persons is left unaddressed, not only individuals but entire societies are unable to move on. This can perpetuate distrust and resentment and become an obstacle to sustainable peace.”
Khiari emphasized the need for international support and compliance with international law.
He highlighted concerns regarding hostages and missing persons in the Gaza Strip, occupied Ukraine and other areas, where access to information is often denied. Khiari also called for the repatriation of missing persons or their remains.
“Resolution 2474 must be fully implemented, with urgency,” he added.
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