How do I report someone missing abroad? What to know after Missouri man found in Syria
Missouri native Travis Timmerman became a nationally known name Thursday, Dec. 12, when he was discovered wandering barefoot in a suburb south of Damascus, Syria. Timmerman had been reported missing by his family this spring, and was last seen in Budapest on May 28.
Contacting loved ones abroad can be difficult due to differences in time zones, cellular carriers and a lack of internet connectivity in some parts of the world. According to the U.S. State Department, the best way to keep in touch is to establish a communication plan before a loved one goes abroad.
“Agree on how frequently they will be in touch and whether it will be by phone, email, or text,” the department writes. “Also, keep their contact information and a copy of their travel itinerary handy. This includes what flights they are taking and at which hotels they are staying.”
But if this communication plan breaks down or you notice an unusual lack of contact from someone abroad, there are still ways to get help locating them. Here’s what to know about reporting a loved one missing overseas.
Who do I contact if I think a relative is missing abroad?
The State Department specifies that Americans with family missing abroad should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that’s nearest to their loved one.
The U.S. government maintains these offices in almost every country worldwide. You can find them listed on the State Department’s website.
The department also maintains an Overseas Citizens Services office in Washington, D.C. You can reach the office at 888-407-4747 if you are calling from the U.S. or Canada or 202-501-4444 if you are calling from another country.
The embassy or consulate can then work to locate your loved one to pass on a message or ensure their safety. Its relationships with local law enforcement and employees who speak the local language can help identify reports of U.S. citizens that have been hospitalized, arrested or have lost their methods of communication with loved ones.
The more information you can provide about your loved one and their travel plans, the better.
Can U.S. embassies and consulates locate non-U.S. citizens?
In general, the State Department will not help locate or evacuate non-U.S. citizens who are reported missing abroad. Instead, loved ones should contact the embassy of the missing person’s nationality.
In crisis situations, the department may make exceptions for non-citizen American residents traveling with U.S. citizen relatives. International aid organizations like the Red Cross may also be able to help in the event of international emergencies.
What type of assistance can U.S. citizens obtain abroad?
U.S. embassies overseas can be a point of contact and offer local resources to loved ones who have run into trouble abroad.
If a U.S. citizen is arrested abroad, a local embassy or consulate can visit them in jail, make them aware of local laws, ensure they are receiving proper treatment and provide access to legal resources. However, it cannot impact the local judicial process or serve as legal representation for your loved one. It cannot unilaterally get U.S. citizens released from jail or pay for legal fees.
Foreign embassies and consulates generally only make repatriation loans available to U.S. citizens in emergency situations to get them back to the U.S. For a $30 annual fee, you can set up an account and transfer money to your loved ones directly through the embassy or consulate.
The embassy or consulate will also coordinate evacuations of U.S. citizens during crises such as natural disasters or the outbreak of war. While evacuation does cost money, it will not exceed the cost of normal airfare before the crisis.
Evacuation may happen on military planes or chartered flights to a nearby country or a safer part of the same country — usually they do not bring citizens back to the U.S.
Do you have more questions about resources available for U.S. citizens abroad? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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