By Alhaji Yusuf, Damaturu
In a powerful display of solidarity, government officials, security forces, and families of missing persons gathered in Damaturu this weekend to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, highlighting a united front to address this humanitarian challenge.
The event, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), served as a beacon of hope, focusing on solutions and the ongoing work to reunite loved ones separated by the armed conflict in the North-East.
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Mr. Ishaku Luka, the ICRC Protection of Family Links team leader in Yobe,has said that over 23,000 registered cases refer to cases of separation or missing persons within the North-East, while about 2,500 are in Yobe, where Gujba LGA has the majority of these cases.
He stated that the day is an avenue for the ICRC to raise awareness and to call the attention of stakeholders to the plight of missing persons.
He revealed that in the Protection of Family Links program, they work to prevent separation. But when separation does occur, they try to locate individuals by collecting tracing requests and finding family members who have been separated due to the armed conflict in the North East.
He noted that, “These individuals and their families face many challenges, primarily the need for information.They want to know where the missing person is and how they are doing, as families always want to be together.
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“Every year we restore contact for people through different means. We use Red Cross messages to restore contact when we find people, for example, in detention centers.
“We also physically transport people, especially the most vulnerable, and reunite them directly with their families. There are many other methods,” said Ishaku.
The event brought together government officials, stakeholders, security officers, and families of the missing. It featured a presentation on the needs of the missing, testimonials from the affected families, and experience sharing from the family association.
