Sri Lanka: Ambiguous Loss | International Committee of the Red Cross

Ambiguous loss, which is sometimes also referred to as frozen grief, describes the debilitating impact of losing a family member and not knowing their fate and whereabouts. Unlike death, this loss does not allow opportunities for closure and resolution, which freezes the process of grieving.

As this often leaves the affected families feeling helpless, hopeless and exhausted, it has been described as “the most distressful of all losses”. Despite the severity of the condition, ambiguous loss remains largely unacknowledged in most societies, including in Sri Lanka.