About 4,700 people go missing annually, according to Sunday newspaper SonntagsZeitungExternal link. The newspaper based this figure on data from 13 cantons. Many of the missing – 44% in cantons Basel City and Fribourg, for example – are under 18.
However, the local authorities only ask the public for help in 2.8% of cases – notably when a suspect, a child, or an elderly person in poor health is unaccounted for. As authorities told the SonntagsZeitung, they are more cautious about launching a manhunt for a healthy adult who might just need some time away. Police also cite their reluctance to frighten the person or worry the public.
In 2017, canton Geneva had the most missing people: 1,668. However, Geneva recently improved its system for reporting anyone missing. Police there initiated formal searches for five people; three are still missing. The other 1,665 were found, but 11 of them were dead.
In comparison, Zurich launched 11 searches for 285 missing people, and Ticino authorities tried to find 33 of their 83 missing – with great success. All but two of the missing were found, including two children spotted near a train station.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
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Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
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Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
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TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
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The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
University of Lausanne calls for end to pro-Palestine sit-in
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The pro-Palestinian occupation continues at the University of Lausanne (UNIL). On Monday evening, a group of students refused to agree to the deadline set by the rectorate.
Ukraine peace conference should include Russia, says Chinese ambassador
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China supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties, says Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui.
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Missing persons searches given helping hand
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Often those who disappear do so without warning, leaving loved ones in a state of anguish. The foundation SwissMissing is on hand to help. “The saddest and most tragic month is August,” Ivan Schmidt, president of SwissMissing, told swissinfo.ch. “As it’s hot, people don’t think twice about leaving home – there’s no problem in finding…
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The tracing services department of the Swiss Red Cross helps people living in Switzerland to find missing loved ones all over the world. Each year, the Bern-based office handles hundreds of cases. In 2010, nearly half of those cases involved political unrest or natural catastrophes. About a quarter were the result of migration issues; the…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.