DR Congo: bringing families back together

Shukuru is one of hundreds of children who lost touch with his family when fighting intensified in Eastern Congo last year. Like many others, he was feared to be dead. The joy of his relatives was endless when he finally returned home with the help of the ICRC. "It is as if I was giving birth again," says his aunt.

Every year, wars and natural disasters mean separation from loved ones for thousands of people and the anguish of not knowing if family members are safe.

Through their tracing services and Red Cross message systems, the ICRC and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world put people back in touch or clarify the fate of missing relatives.

According to an ICRC survey Our World. Views from the field conducted in eight countries presently or recently affected by conflict, almost half of the people directly affected by hostilities said they had lost contact with a loved one.

For more on the survey: http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/research-report-240609

http://www.ourworld-yourmove.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• our world your move
• nonprofit
• red cross
• red crescent
• international movement
• humanitarian challenges
• humanity
• drc
• dr congo
• congo