No one knows exactly how many people have gone missing since the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Their disappearance is a hard experience for the families, leading to emotional and social isolation, despair, as well as to economical and legal problems.

It is of the utmost importance to act quickly when someone goes missing. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent, neutral and impartial humanitarian organization that provides assistance to the victims of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. One of our priorities is supporting the families in their efforts to find missing relatives. Since the beginning of the conflict in Donbas, the ICRC has registered over 1000 tracing cases. Families of about 500 missing persons are still searching for their loved ones with our help.

In October 2016, we launched a national media campaign in Ukraine striving to inform the population of the ICRC hotline number. It is free of charge and any person whose relative has gone missing can call ask for help.

 

As part of the campaign, we have produced a video that invites family of the missing to call ICRC. A 30-second TV spot has been aired by a number of national TV channels such as Ukraine, 112 Ukraine, Channel 5, 24 and Espreso TV, as well as by over 20 regional television and radio stations across the country.

The campaign to promote the hotline number will be expanded by outdoor advertising during the months of December. Those who are searching for their loved ones will be able to see the advertisement billboards and city lights in most regions of Ukraine.

The ICRC is working in close cooperation with forensic institutions and laboratories, investigative agencies, as well as with organizations that provide social support to the families of the missing in many countries of the world. The humanitarian objective of such a cooperation is to clarify the fate of the missing and alleviate the suffering of their relatives.

If your family member has gone missing, the ICRC can provide support.

Please call the hotline 0 800 300 155.