On 29 May 2025, representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) National Headquarters, and CVTL Branches in Lautem and Viqueque met with families searching for their missing loved ones. The meeting offered a space for families to share their stories and continue their search with the support of the Restoring Family Links (RFL) initiative.
Mr. João Martins Alves, ICRC Head of Mission in Timor-Leste, and Mr. Eugénio Pinto, CVTL’s Restoring Family Links (RFL) focal point, emphasized the importance of this work. They reaffirmed the Movement’s commitment to ensuring that families have the right to know the fate of their missing relatives and to receive support in their search.
This initiative is part of the broader humanitarian effort by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to help reconnect families separated by conflict or other crises. It aims to restore hope, preserve dignity, and strengthen community bonds for those affected by past events in Timor-Leste.
For individuals seeking to reconnect with missing relatives or to learn more about the RFL program, CVTL encourages them to visit the nearest CVTL branch office. Staff are available to assist with tracing requests and provide information on ongoing efforts to reunite families.
