The International Committee of the Red Cross (Red Cross) commonly facilitates the transfer or exchange of human remains between parties during armed conflicts.
October 31, 2025
high
institutional
Humanitarian organizations' roles in conflict zones
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) can receive custody of and transport human remains during armed conflicts.
October 17, 2025
high
general
The ICRC and its national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies often serve as neutral intermediaries for humanitarian transfers, including the handling of remains in conflict zones.
Humanitarian organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross state that widespread destruction in conflict zones can complicate and hinder the recovery of bodies and remains.
October 14, 2025
high
causal
Physical devastation from fighting impedes search, identification, and recovery operations for deceased individuals.
The International Committee of the Red Cross can serve as an intermediary to receive and transfer the remains of deceased individuals and hostages between parties during armed conflicts.
October 14, 2025
high
procedural
Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross commonly facilitate transfer or handover of remains and detainees between conflicting parties.
In 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported at least 7,000 unresolved missing-person cases, not including those believed to be under rubble.
October 07, 2025
high
temporal
ICRC's count of unresolved missing-person cases related to the conflict, excluding those reported as buried under rubble.
Ongoing bombardment or active hostilities in a war zone can prevent the safe release and retrieval of hostages because mediators and retrieval teams require cessation of hostilities and secure access to transfer individuals.
October 05, 2025
high
causal
Explains why temporary halts in fighting are often prerequisites for physically transferring hostages.