Bosnia still seeking 7,588 missing persons as modern technologies offer new hope

On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, the MPI BiH held a press conference outside the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, once again appealing to anyone with information regarding missing persons to come forward to the relevant authorities. Zlatko Tuzlak of the MPI BiH Advisory Board noted that families had endured years of waiting for news about their loved ones.

"Today, we will send just one simple message: finding missing persons is not an institutional issue, but a human, moral and civilizational issue concerning our entire society," Tuzlak said, while stressing that state institutions must provide the financial and technical resources necessary for the Institute to carry out more effective searches.

Simun Novakovic of the MPI BiH Board of Directors outlined the mounting difficulties investigators face due to the passage of time and the dwindling pool of available witnesses, arguing that the Institute must adopt innovative methods.

"The Missing Persons Institute cannot rely solely on information. It must also seek other methods in line with modern technologies," Novakovic stated, adding that the organisation expects to acquire ground-penetrating radar and drones capable of conducting surface and subsurface scans.

"With appropriate software, it will be possible to determine whether human remains may be present in a particular area or whether the terrain has been disturbed," he explained, confirming that talks are already underway with Serbia’s Commission on Missing Persons regarding the trial testing of ground-penetrating radar at several sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Institute additionally plans to employ search dogs and utilise artificial intelligence to sift through the vast volume of documentation held within its central records.

"We cannot say today whether this method will be successful, but we simply have to try," Novakovic said, highlighting that the steady decline in reliable intelligence makes technological adoption vital.

The Institute renewed its appeal for public assistance, noting that tips can be submitted anonymously. As part of these efforts, the organisation has initiated procedures to release 600,000 Bosnian marks (approximately €306,775) in operational funds designed to reward information leading directly to the discovery of human remains, provided the details prove accurate.

To mark the International Day of the Disappeared, an exhibition entitled "Where Is He/She?" was also unveiled, providing a visual reminder of the ongoing anguish faced by families and the persistent lack of answers.