The Red Cross international tracing service is a way for families, who have been separated by war or disaster, to try to restore contact. It is a free service.
A global challenge
Wars, internal disturbances and disasters can lead to huge and sudden movements of people fleeing danger. Sometimes parents and children become separated during this flight to safety. Other times, people are about their daily business when a disaster hits or fighting starts; children may be at school and their parents at work. It is easy, in these circumstances, to become separated.
Who and how
In the UK, families wishing to try to trace their relatives overseas can contact their local Red Cross Branch, who will discuss the situation with them. If it seems that that Red Cross might be able to help, the enquirer will be asked to fill in the relevant forms. These will be sent on to the British Red Cross headquarters in London, from where they are forwarded to the appropriate Red Cross or Red Crescent National Society in another country or to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
When a relative has been successfully traced, they can once again be in contact by letter or phone. In areas of conflict or across front lines, they may need to use Red Cross Messages to share their family news.
Special Protection
Tracing is also a part of the particular protection activities of the ICRC in times of war or internal conflict. If, for example, a person is suddenly arrested for reasons relating to a conflict, his or her family may approach the ICRC in that country and give details of their relative's disappearance. The ICRC, in the course of their visits to places of detention and contacts with the authorities in the country, will try to find that person. Records of detention are vital pieces of information that can be passed on to families by Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies.
A global network
The British Red Cross is today helping people to maintain family links across the world, from Sierra Leone to Germany, and from Afghanistan to China. The effects of conflict and disaster can also be long lasting. More than half a century after the end of World War II, the Red Cross continues to receive and handle tracing cases relating to this particular war. For more information, click here
To find out more, go to the resources section where you will find over 50 organisations who may also be able to help. | 
