More than 8,000 people have gone missing during Sudan's three-year civil war, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, leaving families searching desperately for answers about their loved ones' fate.

The conflict has separated families during displacement and fighting, with many people detained without notice or killed in combat zones. In Khartoum state alone, authorities have discovered tens of thousands of bodies buried in unmarked graves since the army retook the capital from paramilitary Rapid Support Forces last year.

During the height of fighting, it was often too dangerous to transport bodies to traditional cemeteries, forcing people to bury the dead wherever possible. Soccer fields, roadsides, and areas near homes became impromptu burial sites. Authorities have since moved nearly 30,000 bodies from these locations, though about 10% remain unidentified.

Fahmy al-Fateh, a 38-year-old farmer who joined Sudan's army, disappeared over a year ago while returning from a military base in Khartoum. His wife Azaher Abdallah has searched hospitals, morgues, and military units for information. Their 3-year-old son continues to shout at passing motorcycles, believing his father might return.

The uncertainty surrounding missing persons creates prolonged psychological distress for families. Some mothers have spent years searching door-to-door, visiting prisons and hospitals, and showing photographs to strangers. The ICRC reports resolving over 1,000 missing person cases but has not disclosed how many involved finding people alive versus deceased.

Forensic identification efforts face significant challenges as laboratories have been destroyed and few specialists remain in the country. Authorities are preserving DNA samples from unidentified remains, hoping future technology and resources will enable them to provide answers to grieving families.