AMMAN — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Amman convened a two-day conference titled “Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Families of Missing Persons: Bridging Theory, Research, and Practice” on September 15–16, with the support of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

 

The conference brought together government representatives, mental health experts, academics, researchers, international and local organisations, alongside families of missing persons from across the region and beyond, according to an ICRC statement.

 

Organised under the partnership framework of the ICRC-KOICA Conflict and Fragility Programme (CFP), the conference highlighted a shared commitment to providing mental health and psychosocial support to families living in uncertainty about the fate and whereabouts of their relatives, and to addressing their prolonged anguish.

 

The conference opened with a keynote address by Pauline Boss, renowned family therapist and originator of the concept of ambiguous loss, followed by numerous presentations and expert panels exploring the importance of MHPSS for families in local policies, academic teaching, and research.

 

Dedicated panels also examined the specific experiences of women and children affected by disappearances, as well as the experience of families during the search process, drawing on experiences from other countries.

 

Numerous comparative researches were also presented including studies on Ambiguous Loss among migrant populations affected by disappearances and family separations.

 

At the heart of numerous discussions were the lived experiences that gave voice to the realities faced by many families.

 

Over the course of two days, the conference served as an integrated learning and knowledge-sharing platform, bridging humanitarian responses with theoretical frameworks.

 

It also dedicated an important segment to developing recommendations on the way forward, drawing on the input of all experts present.

 

"Without an answer, without a farewell, and without a place to grieve, millions of families in this region live suspended between loss and hope," said Yann Fridez, Head of Delegation for the ICRC in Jordan.

 

"International Humanitarian Law recognises this profound suffering, but we must ask ourselves how to prepare future generations of professionals to deliver continuous and dignified support,” Yann emphasised.

 

"This conference goes beyond simply sharing project outcomes. It serves as a meaningful feedback mechanism that systematically connects field experience with academic theory," said Jihyun Jeon, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Jordan.

 

“Through our strategic partnership with the ICRC, KOICA has supported families of missing persons across legal, administrative, psychosocial, and economic dimensions,” she added.

 

Under CFP, ICRC and KOICA partner to deliver comprehensive humanitarian assistance including search for missing persons, and accompaniment to conflict-affected populations and fragile communities in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.