South Sudan. The ICRC facilitates screening of snapshots in Old Fangak, Jonglei State, in partnership with the South Sudan Red Cross. (Photo: CC BY-NC-ND/ICRC/Pawel Krzysiek).

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has recorded 11,000 South Sudanese as missing persons since independence in 2011.

ICRC said out of the figure, only the fate of 5,000 missing persons has been verified in the country.

The revelation came as South Sudan on Wednesday, August 30, joined the rest of the worrld in commemorating the International Day of Disappeared.

ICRC and its partner, the South Sudan Red Cross, said they have been supporting 81 families since last year through an accompaniment program including providing psychosocial and financial support to engage in income-generating projects.

It says while many families are still living in uncertainty, causing agony and unspeakable suffering, some are rebuilding their lives, hoping that one day they will receive news about their missing persons.

The ICRC stresses that even though organizations and institutions are not able to provide answers, solidarity with families of the missing and support them might contribute to alleviating the pain caused by the absence of their loved ones.

It further stated that through the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, a technical working group was created bringing together representatives from various state institutions aimed at responding to the needs of missing persons and their families.