Living with uncertainty: needs of the families of missing persons in Sri Lanka

The years that have passed since the armed conflict in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 have not brought solace to the families of the over 16,000 persons who, according to the ICRC's records, remain missing.

Between October 2014 and November 2015, conducting an island-wide assessment, the ICRC met 395 families of missing persons, including those of missing security forces and police personnel, along with the authorities and organizations providing assistance to these victims.

According to the findings of the Families' Needs Assessment, knowing what has happened to a missing relative is the most important of the many needs these families have. Until they find out, the families face emotional, economic, legal and administrative difficulties in their daily lives.

While the aim of the assessment was to understand the needs of families of persons who went missing as a consequence of the past armed conflict and to see how best to help them, the ICRC hopes that the findings and recommendations contained in the assessment report will contribute to the development of a comprehensive response to the needs of all missing persons' families, who continue to suffer in silence.