ICMP offered assistance to all countries affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004 and produced DNA profiles to identify hundreds of victims in Thailand and the Maldives. In 2008 and 2013, ICMP helped the authorities in The Philippines identify victims following extensive loss of life as a result of major hurricanes.
In this section
The Maldives
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami severely impacted the low-lying Maldives archipelago. Parts of the country were completely submerged immediately after the disaster. Approximately one hundred Maldivians died, and a large number were reported missing. ICMP established DNA profiles for the remains of 149 missing persons. Unfortunately, no progress was made in obtaining family reference samples […]
The Philippines
In June 2008 Typhoon Frank – also known as Typhoon Fengshen – struck the Philippines and China, causing severe damage and resulting in at least 1,500 deaths and leaving more than 1,000 unaccounted for. A 24,000-ton ferry, the M.S. Princess of the Stars, capsized in the storm, leaving more than 700 people missing. It is […]
Thailand
Since 2003, as many as 2,800 people have gone missing in Thailand (not including those who were lost in the 2004 tsunami). The high incidence of missing persons reflects ongoing challenges in consolidating the institutions and practices of a society ruled by law. In December 2004, the third largest earthquake ever recorded triggered a devastating […]
Türkiye
The Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Türkiye compiled by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor for 2013 notes that the Turkish authorities have made some progress in investigating previous cases of disappearances, many from the early 1990s and quotes a report by the Human Rights Association of Türkiye (HRA), […]