UN estimates number of missing persons in Syria around 300,000

Carla Quintana, head of the independent institution dedicated to missing persons in Syria, announced that the institution processed over 75,000 documents last year. This effort contributed to making progress in uncovering the fate of the missing and beginning to provide answers to their families.

In an interview published on the United Nations website, Quintana stated that processing more than 75,000 documents in a single year—nine times the volume handled in the preceding period—enabled the institution to link evidence, understand patterns of disappearance, and start providing families with information regarding the fate of their loved ones.

She noted that while the exact number of missing persons in Syria remains undetermined, current estimates range between 130,000 and 300,000 individuals. She emphasized that Syria is among the countries with the highest numbers of missing persons globally and that "almost every Syrian family knows someone who is missing or has lost a family member."

She added that the institution is collaborating with the Syrian National Commission for Missing Persons on several projects, including mapping hundreds of mass graves and developing a system for information exchange and analysis to support future forensic operations and victim identification.

Carla Quintana emphasized that the success of search efforts hinges on four key elements: political will, information, trust, and methodology. She noted that the institution has applied to open a permanent office in Syria to enhance coordination with authorities and work directly with the families of the missing, though approval has not yet been granted.

Quintana, head of the independent institution dedicated to missing persons in Syria, stressed that the organization would continue to accelerate its efforts—in cooperation with the Syrian Interim Government, civil society organizations, and families—with the aim of uncovering the truth and providing answers to the families of the missing as quickly as possible.

Sh-S

ANHA