In Nepal, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) — together with the Nepal Red Cross Society and Nepal Society of Families of Disappeared and Missing Nepal (NEFAD) — is holding a commemoration event on 4th September in Lalitpur for those who are still missing as a result of the conflict. This will be an occasion for the families of those who disappeared to come together to remember them and bring their suffering to the attention of the wider public.

Speaking ahead of the International Day of the Disappeared on 30th August, Marianne Pecassou, who heads the ICRC’s team working on the missing, said, “It’s essential to collect information that is available today on people who disappear, how and where they have disappeared, that might be useful at some point in time to bring answers to the families.”

Families of those who disappeared deal with uncertainties and suffer immensely on an emotional and social level. They often need long-term support in order to overcome these difficulties and regain control of their lives. The ICRC offers support of various kinds, ranging from economic security programmes to help families find new livelihoods, to legal and administrative advice to emotional care and help with trying to find out the facts and ways of remembering their missing loved ones.

An ICRC documentary which tells the story of three people from different corners of the world, each with a unique story about someone close who has gone missing, will also be screened at the event to mark the International Day of the Disappeared.

Follow live tweets @ICRC_nd for more on the event tomorrow.