NEW YORK – During a recent press conference at the United Nations headquarters, Karla Quintana, head of the Independent Institution for Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP), highlighted the urgent need for international collaboration to address the crisis of thousands of individuals who disappeared under the Assad regime. Quintana emphasized the scale of the challenge, stating that the quest to find these missing persons is a race against time that demands global involvement.

Quintana described the situation as a "crisis that affects hundreds of thousands of families and resonates throughout the entire Syrian society." She urged for the mobilization of every available resource, skill, and capacity, drawing on international experiences to effectively tackle the issue.

The efforts of the IIMP are complicated by the lack of reliable records and the difficulty in accessing many conflict-ridden areas in Syria. These regions often have incomplete or destroyed documentation, and some remain unstable and dangerous, making the task of locating missing persons even more daunting.

Established by the UN, the IIMP not only aims to help Syrian families find their missing loved ones but also provides legal aid and psychological support. This initiative responds to calls from rights organizations for the Syrian government to intensify their efforts in investigating the disappearances and delivering justice.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 53-year regime in December 2024 marked a significant turning point. Assad, who fled to Russia, is now subject to an arrest warrant issued by Syrian authorities for multiple alleged crimes, including premeditated murder and torture. Despite these developments, the situation in Syria remains precarious, with ongoing reports of violence, looting, and abductions across various regions. The UN has been vocal about the need to protect civilians amidst the escalating inter-ethnic violence and military operations that continue to plague the country.

As the international community watches closely, Quintana’s call to action serves as a reminder of the lingering impacts of the Assad regime and the critical need for a coordinated effort to uncover the truth behind the disappearances and support the healing process for thousands of Syrian families.