Tomorrow, 30 August, marks the International Day of the Disappeared. On this occasion EULEX Kosovo would like to take this opportunity to remember the tragedy of those who have gone missing and the plight of their families. 

“This is a crucial issue which affects many families in Kosovo and is of utmost importance for the Mission”, said Gabriele Meucci, Head of EULEX Mission in Kosovo.

EULEX contributes to Kosovo’s search for the Missing with a team of forensic experts. They continue to work jointly with the Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM) at the Kosovo Ministry of Justice in intensive efforts to determine the fate of the Missing.  Over the past few years, EULEX has been training the local teams in the field to conduct site assessments and exhumations in order to strengthen Kosovo’s capacity in the difficult process of the search for the Missing.

Since December 2008, when EULEX began working with the Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM), the remains of 483 victims have been returned to their families. These include 381 missing persons who were found following intensive field work (513 field operations) and laboratory analysis (intensive autopsy and identification work, including over 2000 bone samples selected for DNA analysis).

EULEX remains committed to support the Kosovo institutions with its forensic expertise, to determine the fate of the Missing to whatever extent possible.