Ministry of Social Development Activates Missing Persons and Family Reunification Efforts in Khartoum

Sadiq Hassan Farini, Director General and Acting Minister of the Ministry of Social Development in Khartoum State, held a meeting with representatives of the Sudanese Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in the presence of the ministry’s relevant departments, to discuss the activation and promotion of the Restoring Family Links (RFL), Missing Persons, and Family Reunification Program.

The Minister listened to Shireen Hanafi, the Red Cross official responsible for the Family Links Program, who explained that the issue of missing persons is one of the most complex humanitarian files. She attributed this complexity to the ongoing displacement caused by the war, both within and outside Sudan, as well as cases of abduction, enforced disappearance, and detention.

Hanafi stressed the need to reactivate the program as families return to their communities, emphasizing the importance of rapid intervention in searching for missing persons, communicating with affected families and relevant authorities, identifying cases, and opening tracing requests.

Minister Farini welcomed the Sudanese Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross, praising their efforts throughout the war period.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening efforts to locate missing persons and highlighted the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding and cooperation agreement between the ministry and the committee within a clear legal and regulatory framework.

The meeting concluded with agreement to move forward with the partnership and to work closely with local communities across the seven localities of Khartoum State to ensure that services reach all affected families.