Karla Quintana, head of the United Nations-backed Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria (IIMP), has called for international collaboration to locate the tens of thousands of Syrians who disappeared during the Assad regime. Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Quintana emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the crisis affects not only hundreds of thousands of families but also entire communities and the broader Syrian society. She highlighted the necessity of mobilizing every available skill, resource, and capacity to achieve the IIMP’s mission. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/1530776827ad5743194dd443c66f513b?utm_source=openai))
The IIMP faces significant challenges due to the uncertainty of records. The exact number of missing persons is difficult to confirm, as conflict has rendered many areas inaccessible, and records may be incomplete or destroyed. Some regions remain unstable and dangerous to work in, complicating efforts to gather accurate data. ([news.un.org](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1135127?utm_source=openai))
Established by the UN, the IIMP aims to assist Syrian families in locating their missing relatives and uncovering the truth about their disappearances. The institution also provides legal assistance and psychological support to the families of the missing. ([iimp.un.org](https://iimp.un.org/en/supporting-syrian-path-truth-landmark-visit-independent-institution-missing-persons-syria-damascus?utm_source=openai))
The formation of the IIMP responds to the UN’s acknowledgment of tens of thousands of individuals who have gone missing under the Assad regime over the past 50 years. In light of this, rights organizations have recently urged the Syrian government to intensify efforts to investigate and deliver justice for those still unaccounted for. ([news.un.org](https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1135127?utm_source=openai))
Following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syrian authorities issued an arrest warrant for him in September 2025, citing crimes including premeditated murder, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty. The situation in Syria remains fragile, with reports from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic indicating allegations of killings, looting, abductions, and kidnappings in several regions. The UN has called for the protection of civilians amid rising inter-ethnic violence and escalating military operations. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/1530776827ad5743194dd443c66f513b?utm_source=openai))