TRUST
TRUST connects people, information and institutions across borders to help turn uncertainty into answers.
60 000
people who have died during migration processes since 2014
2 475
deaths or disappearances in the Mediterranean in 2024
1 357
deaths or disappearances in Europe in 2024
Every year, thousands of migrants go missing along migration routes, leaving families without information about their whereabouts.
The lack of clear reporting and tracing mechanisms, fragmented information and bureaucratic barriers to cooperation between countries make it more difficult to identify missing persons and for families to obtain answers.
TRUST was created to strengthen coordination between authorities, specialised services, humanitarian organisations and communities, promoting more effective, safe and coordinated mechanisms.
Every year, thousands of people go missing along migration routes. Shipwrecks, loss of contact, border violence, or long and fragmented journeys can leave families, sometimes for years, without any information about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Since 2014, more than 60,000 people have died during migration worldwide, almost half of them in the Mediterranean. In 2024 alone, 2,475 deaths or disappearances were recorded in the Mediterranean and 1,357 in Europe. These figures may, however, underestimate the true scale of the phenomenon, as many cases go unrecorded.
For families, a disappearance means far more than a lack of information. Uncertainty can prolong suffering, hinder access to rights and services, and create legal, administrative and social obstacles. At the same time, gaps remain in reporting, tracing, identification and information-sharing mechanisms between countries.
When someone goes missing, an entire family is left in limbo.
Where TRUST makes a difference:
Making pathways clearer
Helping define where, how, and to whom a family can report a disappearance, reducing uncertainty, delays, and unnecessary referrals between organisations.
Connecting information
Improving how data is collected, organised, and shared among the different stakeholders, while ensuring confidentiality and data protection.
Bringing responses closer
Strengthening coordination between families, communities, the Red Cross, authorities, and specialised services, so that each case receives more consistent and coordinated support.
Turning knowledge into action
Improving procedures, preparing professionals, and supporting more consistent decision-making across countries.
Where it is implemented
TRUST is implemented in four European countries, each with different migration realities, legal frameworks and institutional responses.
PORTUGAL
Portuguese Red Cross
Strengthening family links and the humanitarian response in destination and transit contexts.
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ITALY
Italian Red Cross
Experience in maritime contexts and identification processes related to shipwrecks.
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FRANCE
French Red Cross
Work in border and mobility contexts, with support for families.
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SWEDEN
Swedish Red Cross
Experience in humanitarian tracing and institutional cooperation.
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