The United Nations human rights office has raised an alarm about nearly 100 new cases of missing persons in Syria since Bashar Assad's removal from power. Spokesperson Thameen Al-Keetan disclosed during Friday's briefing that the office documented at least 97 disappearances, emphasizing that armed groups must comply with international humanitarian standards and protect aid workers.
The latest incidents compound a humanitarian crisis involving over 100,000 individuals who vanished during Assad's rule. Among recent cases, volunteer Hamza Al-Amarin from the White Helmets emergency response organization has disappeared, highlighting ongoing threats to humanitarian personnel despite legal protections under the Geneva Conventions protocols.
The UN established a dedicated institution in June 2023 to investigate missing persons throughout the Syrian conflict. Officials stressed that determining the fate of disappeared individuals remains essential for achieving lasting peace and fulfilling legal obligations under international remedy and reparation principles for victims.
The latest incidents compound a humanitarian crisis involving over 100,000 individuals who vanished during Assad's rule. Among recent cases, volunteer Hamza Al-Amarin from the White Helmets emergency response organization has disappeared, highlighting ongoing threats to humanitarian personnel despite legal protections under the Geneva Conventions protocols.
The UN established a dedicated institution in June 2023 to investigate missing persons throughout the Syrian conflict. Officials stressed that determining the fate of disappeared individuals remains essential for achieving lasting peace and fulfilling legal obligations under international remedy and reparation principles for victims.
