Missing Eritreans: How to Report a Missing Person and What Happens Next

When someone you love goes missing, the hardest part is often not knowing where to turn. This guide explains how to report a missing Eritrean relative to Missing From Eritrea, what information helps most, and exactly what happens after you submit. Reporting is free, confidential, and available in English, Arabic, and Tigrinya.

01When should you report a missing person?

You do not need to wait, and you do not need proof of what happened. You can report if:

• You have lost contact with a relative who was travelling, especially along migration routes through Sudan, Libya, Egypt, or across the Mediterranean.
• A family member left Eritrea and has not been heard from.
• You have heard that someone is detained, held for ransom, or stranded, and you are trying to trace them.

If you are unsure whether to report, report anyway. A record helps, even when the details are incomplete.

02What information helps most

The more you can share, the better the chance that someone recognises your relative. Useful details include:

• Full name, in its original spelling and any other spellings used.
• A clear photo of the person, if you have one.
• Age or date of birth, and gender.
• When and where they were last seen or last made contact.
• The route or destination they were travelling towards.
• Any distinguishing details, such as height, marks, or the clothes they were last wearing.
• A way to reach you if someone comes forward with information.

If you only have some of this, that is completely fine. Share what you have and add more later.

03How to submit a report

You can report a missing person here. The form is short, works on a phone, and is available in your language. You will be asked for the details above and for contact information so we can reach you privately if there is news.

Your contact details are kept private. They are never shown on the public page.

04What happens after you submit

1. Our team reviews your submission. We check the details and prepare the case with care, so that what is published is accurate and respectful.
2. The case is added to the public registry. This is a searchable record that families, communities, and volunteers use to look for missing people. A clear, public appeal greatly increases the chance that someone recognises your relative.
3. The appeal is shared. Cases can be shared across our channels so they reach the wider Eritrean community and diaspora.
4. Tips come back to us. When someone has information, it is passed to our team, and we contact you privately with anything credible.

Publishing is not instant, because each case is reviewed first. If we need to check something with you, we will get in touch.

05Your privacy and safety

We understand that these situations can be sensitive, and that some families worry about who might see a public appeal. A few things to know:

• Your contact details are never made public.
• You control what you share. If certain details should stay private, leave them out or tell us in the notes.
• If you have safety concerns about publishing at all, contact us first and we will talk it through with you.

06Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything? No. Reporting and searching are completely free.

Which languages can I use? English, Arabic, and Tigrinya.

What if I do not have a photo? You can still report. A photo helps, but it is not required.

Can I update the case later? Yes. If new information comes to light, contact us and we will update the record.

I am not the closest relative, can I still report? Yes. Friends and community members can report on a family's behalf.

07You are not searching alone

Every case on the registry is a family holding on to hope. Reporting your relative adds their name to a growing community of people looking out for one another. When you are ready, report a missing person, it takes only a few minutes, and it could be the step that brings them home.