The Red Cross has announced that a cyber attack on a family-unification program has hit a database of more than half a million "high-risk" people, including missing persons and people separated from loved ones due to natural disasters or conflicts. It is not yet known who is behind the incident.

The organization's statement said that this week a sophisticated cyber attack was identified against the computer servers of an external company in Switzerland that the Red Cross uses to store information. 

The attack revealed personal details and classified information about more than 515,000 high-risk people, including displaced persons, missing persons and detainees, who were collected from 60 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world.

It is not yet known who is responsible for the cyber attack and whether the information was used, but the Red Cross was quick to shut down the computer systems of the program that works to unite the separated families. 

"Any attack on the information of missing persons makes the grief and suffering of the families even more severe," said the organization's secretary general, Robert Mardini. "We are shocked that this humanitarian information will be a target for harm. 

"This cyber attack is endangering more vulnerable people who already need the help of humanitarian services."

Image: Reuters