Families separated while escaping conflict and disaster could be within a mouse-click of finding each other with a new European Red Cross tracing database.

Linking up the international tracing and message services (ITMS) of National Red Cross societies across the continent, the computer-based European Tracing Database can slash the time it takes to reunite families."In the confusion of fleeing conflicts and disasters, it's very easy for family members to become separated and end up in different countries with no means of knowing where their loved ones are," explained Kevin Studds, head of British Red Cross ITMS.

"With this new system we can search across Europe and if a match comes up people can be put in contact extremely quickly, potentially even the same day."

I am so grateful to the Red Cross for reuniting my family.

Mike Kilonda, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mike Kilonda fled to the UK from the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his young son and was separated from his pregnant wife.

"I am so grateful to the Red Cross for reuniting my family, the new European tracing database is great news and means there will be more stories with happy endings like my family's."

Through the Red Cross' tracing service, Mike discovered his wife had also made her way to the UK. They were reunited in June 2006 and now live together in Cardiff.

Volunteer with the International tracing and message service