Yemeni families struggle to locate missing relatives as fighting resumes

More than 1,800 families have turned to the ICRC for help finding missing relatives, but the resurgence of hostilities in July has effectively frozen those searches. Munif, who vanished after joining Houthi forces in 2020, remains unaccounted for, while his brother Mohammed fears he may have been killed by an air strike or held captive. In a similar case, Abdulaziz, fighting in Marib, has not been heard from for two months, leaving his family to wonder if he is dead or merely missing.

The renewed artillery, drone and air attacks on Houthi positions are expected to increase the number of disappearances. Humanitarian officials stress that families deserve answers, and experts call for safe access to recover bodies and document the missing. The ongoing lack of information prolongs the suffering of countless Yemeni households.