Tracing and restoration of family links

Every year thousands of families across the world are separated by conflict and disaster. The Tracing Service in Australia is part of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent global tracing network, which aims to re-establish contact between separated family members and clarify the fate of the missing. Services The following services are provided free of charge:

Winwoo Dixon was just 20 years old when she was separated from her two small children. In 2007 they were finally reunited through the global Red Cross tracing service.

• help in locating a relative missing as a result of war or disaster
• help in sending a message to a relative where there is no formal means of communication
• help in checking the welfare of a relative overseas whom you are unable to reach due to illness or other circumstances
• help in providing you with a confirmation of detention if the International Committee of the Red Cross visited you in detention overseas.

For a basic overview of the Tracing Service, you can download a Tracing Information Sheet (currently available in 18 languages).

Eligibility

The program can help when:

• loss of contact results from war or natural disaster
• the enquirer and missing person are close relatives
• the enquirer and missing person are long-time friends or war veterans or have been interned in a prison camp together
• the missing person is overseas in a war or disaster area
• the missing person is in an immigration facility in mainland Australia or offshore
• in situations not related to a conflict or disaster, Red Cross may process tracing requests on a compassionate basis.

How to access Tracing services

• their full name as it is expressed locally
• their parents' names
• their date and place of birth
• their nationality
• last known address
• the date and circumstances of last news.

They will also need your details including: