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Catastrophe

Red Cross: missing migrant inquiries skyrocket

December 28, 2017

The German Red Cross president said it was "frightening" how many of the disappeared are unaccompanied minors. But some of the missing may have died on their journey to Germany, the aid group said.

https://p.dw.com/p/2q1dy
Silhouette of a migrant family in Hungary
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma Press/London News Pictures/P. Hackett

The German Red Cross (DRK) on Thursday said it received 2,700 inquiries from migrants seeking missing relatives in Germany this year, including 1,000 of them for unaccompanied minors.

The humanitarian aid organization said the figures are considerably high despite fewer migrant arrivals in 2017.

Read more: Germany's local authorities need help getting jobs for refugees

Missing in Europe

- In 2016, DRK registered about 2,800 inquiries for missing persons

- Europol said some 10,000 children had gone missing in Europe during the 2015 migration crisis

- More than 75 percent of Europe-bound youth are subjected to forced labor, sexual abuse, child marriage and other forms of exploitation, according to the UN

Unknown fates

German Red Cross President Gerda Hasselfeldt said:

- "Most frightening is the consistently high number of unaccompanied minor refugees, who are either looking for their own family or are sought by them."

- "For families, there is nothing worse than not knowing whether a relative is still alive or what might have happened to them."

- "Since identifying the dead on various migration routes isn't always possible, many (of the missing persons') fates will remain unclear."

Refugees on Lesbos

What are the reasons for going missing: There are many factors behind a person's disappearance, including death, kidnapping and being sold into slavery. However, sometimes a migrant will apply for asylum with different authorities in several countries, which can create issues with reporting on where a person is located.

What happens to missing children: Law enforcement agencies across Europe have warned that unaccompanied minors traveling alone are most prone to exploitation from criminal organizations. Frequently children fleeing alone have been subject to sexual exploitation and unpaid labor.

Why the number of missing persons has spiked in Europe: In 2015, hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in Europe, many of them fleeing war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. With so many people traveling across long distances and several borders, already-burdened migration authorities were unable to keep track of everyone entering and exiting their respective countries.

What happens next: The German Red Cross will attempt to find the missing persons. In the case they are unsuccessful, the inquiries are handed over to authorities who may have access to international networks and databases. If a person is found, legal options on reunion may be explored.

ls/rt (dpa, KNA)