Hundreds of thousands missing worldwide — ICMP chief says cooperation is key

Hundreds of thousands of people are missing worldwide, the highest number since 1946, due to conflict, climate change and migration, the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Kathryne Bomberger, said.

She said more than 70,000 migrants are missing in Europe, over 100,000 in Ukraine, more than 200,000 in Syria, and over 100,000 each in Mexico and Colombia. “This is a global humanitarian crisis that requires a collective response from governments and the international community,” Bomberger said.

She noted that cooperation among states, families and international institutions is crucial to resolving such cases. Bomberger praised Azerbaijan and State Commission head Ali Nagiyev for their efforts and called the inclusion of a clause on “investigations into missing persons” in the draft peace treaty with Armenia “a modern and courageous step.”