ISS Faqs

Q. I am trying to locate the whereabouts of a close relative lost during the Holocaust. How can the Red Cross help me to find this person?

A. There is a program designed to help families determine the fate of loved ones who were separated due to conflict in Europe between 1933 and 1957. A local caseworker will work in conjunction with the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing and Information Center in Baltimore, the International Tracing Service and Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies worldwide to attempt to find information that will bring resolution to your case. If you have lost someone during the Holocaust, please call our International Social Services program at 214.678.4800.

Q. What type of information do I need to know about the person I am searching for before I submit a tracing application to the Red Cross?

A. At the very minimum, an inquirer should know the first and last name of the sought individual, their approximate date of birth, their country of birth, and the place where the sought person was last known to reside.

Q. Is there a charge for tracing services?

A. No. All Red Cross programs are made possible by the voluntary services and financial support of the American people

Q. How long does it generally take to do a tracing/search?

A. Due to the complexity of the search and the volume of requests being received, efforts may take from several months to over a year for Holocaust tracings. However, your assigned caseworker will periodically be in contact with you for the duration of the search to answer questions and update you on the progress of the case.

Q. I am seeking reparations on behalf of my family member who was imprisoned in Poland during World War II. How is the Red Cross involved in the dispensation of these funds?

A. The Red Cross is not responsible for determining claimant eligibility or for allocating reparation funds. However, we are able to refer interested parties to organizations that do deal with World War II compensation and restitution funds. In addition, a tracing inquiry through the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing program may yield documentation, such as proof of deportation, internment or forced labor, which families will need in order to apply for compensation. For more information please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.

Q. Several weeks ago there was a natural disaster in my native country. The phone lines to my relatives' hometown have been cut off and I have not been able to get in touch with them. Can the Red Cross help me inquire about their well being?

A. In the event of a natural disaster in another country where you have tried and been unable to make contact with loved ones using all normal means of communication (including telephone, mail service, and e-mail), the Red Cross may be able to send a Disaster Welfare Inquiry to determine the well being of a close family member who is a native of that country. This will depend on the ability of the Red Cross society of that country to process these inquiries. The inquirer must be able to provide a pre-disaster address and must have been in communication with the sought individual within the last year to be eligible for the service. (Inquiries about U.S.citizens who are affected by a disaster in another country are handled by the U. S. State Department at 1.888.407.4747 or 1.202.647.5225.) For more information, please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.

Q. I have lost contact with relatives in my native country due to a conflict there. Can you help me to locate them and re-establish contact?

A. In the event of an international or internal armed conflict in your native country in which you have tried and been unable to make contact with loved ones using all normal means of communication (including telephone, mail service, and e-mail), the American Red Cross may be able to help you send a personal message through Red Cross channels. You must be able to provide a pre-conflict address and must have been in communication with the sought individual within the last year to be eligible for our message service. If your relatives have had to flee their home and their current location is unknown, we may be able to submit a tracing inquiry in an attempt to locate them, even if you have not had contact during the past year. For more information, please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.

Q. My mother placed her firstborn child up for adoption. She is now very sick and would like to be reunited with her daughter before she dies. Can the Red Cross help us find this child?

A. The Red Cross does not accept tracing requests pertaining to birth parents sought by adopted children or parents seeking children born to them. For information on community resources, please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.

Q. A friend of mine is in the hospital and the doctor says that this patient's condition is very serious. The patient's only family members are in another country. Can the Red Cross help to bring them to the United States?

A. No. The Red Cross has no role in approving individuals to enter the United States, whether it is for a family emergency or for permanent relocation. However, we can provide guidance in these situations. For more information, please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.

Q. I received a letter from my family member who is staying in a refugee camp in another country. How can I send money to this person?

A. The primary objective of international tracing is to restore communication between family members who have been separated by war or natural disaster. Therefore relatives cannot transmit funds, medication, food or any other item through Red Cross channels to any country, at any time, regardless of the country. There may be no way to meet these requests until the situation in the affected country changes. However, we may be able to assist the inquirer by sending a Red Cross message to their relative. For more information, please call our International Social Service program at 214.678.4800.