Four Decades of Waiting: Families of Lebanon’s Missing Still Seek the Truth

Decades after the end of the Lebanese Civil War, many families remain in a state of uncertainty. According to Al Jazeera, approximately 17,415 cases of disappearance were recorded during the conflict. Hasna Abdullah al-Ali, who lost her father and brother in 1988, states that families lack even a grave to visit, and their only demand is to know the truth. Najia Sari, who has been waiting for news of her husband for 44 years, reports that despite persistent efforts and contact with relevant authorities, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), no answers have been provided. In 2018, Lebanon passed Law 105, which formally recognizes the right of families to know the fate and whereabouts of their missing relatives. The National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared was established in 2020, and with the appointment of new members in 2025, it has resumed efforts to collect information and DNA samples to identify remains. Wadad Halawani, head of the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Missing in Lebanon, emphasizes that this is not merely a private family matter but a crucial part of Lebanon's national memory that must be addressed to prevent the repetition of such tragedies.