People have gone missing as long as men have been fighting wars. The plight of people missing in armed conflict and the suffering of their families has been a consistent concern to the ICRC. This specially commissioned report, written by an independent journalist, turns the spotlight onto the plight of missing persons and their families. Testimonies, stories and strong quotations have been compiled to produce an emotive portrayal of this silent tragedy. It is intended to highlight the human suffering that is faced by the families of the missing and to raise awareness of this issue on the local, regional and international level.