Syria faces one of the world’s highest numbers of missing persons, a challenge it is addressing with support from the United Nations. Karla Quintana, head of the UN Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria, outlined ongoing efforts including the processing of over 75,000 documents and cooperation with key partners. The institution, established by the UN General Assembly in 2023, focuses on missing migrants, children, and those disappeared by the terrorist group Da’esh following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024.

Quintana noted that while the new Syrian Government has granted some access, it has yet to permit the establishment of a permanent office in the country. She stressed that accessing, analyzing, and sharing information remains crucial to discovering the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. Collaborative efforts continue, driven by families of the missing who advocated for the institution’s creation. "Syria knows they don’t have to do this alone," she said.

Simultaneously, Syria has a historic opportunity to transform one of the world’s largest displacement crises into an inclusive and sustainable recovery. Paula Gaviria Betancur, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, stated, "Internally displaced persons are among the most affected by Syria’s past, and among those who can contribute most significantly to its future."

Earlier in July 2026, UN investigators from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria urged the Syrian Government to continue tracing missing detainees and ensure accountability following a week-long visit marked by deadly bomb attacks in Damascus and insecurity in the south.

The UN emphasized that Syria is not alone in facing these challenges as Secretary-General António Guterres departs on his first visit to the country in his current capacity.

Sources