Over 25,000 children registered missing in Africa, says Red Cross

Nairobi, Aug 29 (EFE).- More than 25,000 children have gone missing in Africa while fleeing conflicts, among other reasons, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Monday.

In a statement issued to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, the ICRC said it has registered 64,000 cases of missing people, 40% were minors.

Over 35 armed conflicts are ongoing in Africa, where thousands of people, including children, try to escape by crossing borders and the Mediterranean in search of a better future every year.

The ICRC said the documented cases of missing people have been on the rise, adding that the real figures are much higher.

Children face the risk of exploitation, violence and disappearance during displacement, according to the statement.

Many also end up alone, not knowing the whereabouts of their families, the ICRC said.

In 2021, the ICRC helped locate the whereabouts of 4,200 people and reunite 1,200 families across Africa. EFE

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