As Russian forces withdraw from parts of Ukraine, reports have emerged of thousands dead and mass graves holding unknown numbers of bodies.
After many people die in human-made or natural “mass disasters”, the work of identifying the victims begins. This is a crucial part of the process of grieving the loss of life, and for a community to start recovering from mass trauma.
Forensic experts, which form disaster victim identification teams, have standard operating procedures for these situations. These procedures give the best chance of recovering information, successfully identifying remains, and providing initial psychological support to victims’ families.
Many nations have their own disaster victim identification teams. However, as the world becomes more connected and disasters grow more complex, international cooperation is on the rise.
Disaster victim identification experts gather the victims’ data at the scene. They then obtain dental records, DNA, fingerprints and other invidual-specific information, such as tattoos and prostheses, during the post-mortem examination.
Information about the victims’ lives is recovered via various sources. These range from the typical medical records and collaboration with suspected victims’ families, to photographs posted on social media and personal items such as jewellery.
All of these data are used to confirm the victim’s identity, so the remains can be released to the family.
The correct storage of bodies is a priority. While there is a “best practice” procedure, it must often be adapted to the circumstances.
For example, in Ukraine the United Nations reports 1,611 civilian deaths confirmed as of April 7. There are unconfirmed reports of thousands more.
READ MORE: Latest development on Ukraine-Russia crisis
When many people die in a short time, and in an active war zone, managing their remains can be difficult.
The best storage procedure would use refrigerated containers or dry ice to keep the bodies cool or frozen. Temporary burials can be considered if electricity is an issue, and for the health and safety of survivors.
If bodies are to be moved or buried, they must be documented first with photographs, fingerprints and DNA samples. Individual and marked body bags are also important, as are geocoding systems to precisely identify the burial location of each individual.
Disaster victim identification teams aim to put in place the highest possible quality standards. This allows victims to be treated with dignity and respect, giving their families the best opportunity to obtain answers as quickly as possible.
Mass disasters affect multiple countries, and the victims are frequently citizens of different nations.
International organisations such as Interpol and the International Commission on Missing Persons commonly offer technical and other assistance in such cases, especially in less-developed countries.
However, greater international cooperation between disaster victim identification teams is needed. This is to support in-country authorities and assure ethical, transparent and humane treatment of all victims.
A key part of this cooperation will be strategic planning ahead of disasters, and establishing protocols for bringing in specialists and resources when disasters occur.
There have been several noteworthy projects aiming to test the joint response capacities of different countries. In 2019 the Austrian Red Cross ran a large exercise in the European Alps involving rescue organisations from several neighbouring countries.
In Australia, the Disaster Victim Identification Practitioner’s Course held in the Northern Territory brings together experts from every state. The Australian Border Force also works with the Malaysia Coast Guard in Operation Redback, which aims to combat maritime crime and prevent vulnerable people from risking their lives at sea.
Some mass disaster exercises require thousands of volunteers to play the role of victims for a drill that can run for several consecutive days.
In the past few years I have developed an educational program funded by the Australian government’s New Colombo Plan. This program brings together Australian and Malaysian forensic students with international experts to work on a simulated mass disaster scenario. Students who have taken part in this intercultural experience have improved their practical and communication skills, developed awareness and long-lasting international connections.
Projects like this one should be a priority of every country. All nations should develop plans to prepare the present and future generations of investigators to help heal the physical and psychological scars caused by a disaster.
Reuters
Fri Apr 08 2022
Funeral service employees and police investigators work with bodies of civilians, collected from streets to local cemetery, as Russia?s attack on Ukraine continues, in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine. - REUTERS
KidDin bergabung jawab segala isu Konsert Search 'Gemuruh'
KONSERT Search 'Gemuruh' nampaknya semakin diperkatakan disebabkan beberapa isu yang ditimbulkan sehari dua ini.
Penunjuk perasaan Palestin tempelak wartawan AS
Mereka menuduh wartawan A.S sembunyikan dan berikan gambaran salah mengenai perang di Gaza.
Lawatan ke Riyadh: Blinken melawat Arab Saudi esok
Setiausaha Negara Amerika Syarikat, Antony Blinken akan melawat Arab Saudi pada Isnin untuk bertemu dengan rakan serantau dan membincangkan usaha mencapai gencatan senjata di Gaza dan pembebasan tebusan Israel.
Iraq lulus akta penjara maksimum 15 tahun
Parlimen Iraq meluluskan undang-undang yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis dengan hukuman penjara maksimum 15 tahun pada Sabtu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: MB nafi rumah terbuka Selangor langgar akta
Penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Peringkat Negeri Selangor yang diadakan pada Sabtu malam di pekan Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) di sini, tidak melanggar Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 (AKPR).
Pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 cederakan warga emas
Seorang pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 selepas mengaku bersalah mendatangkan kecederaan kepada seorang warga emas.
Amiruddin nafi rumah terbuka langgar peraturan pilihan raya
Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari menafikan dakwaan bahawa penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri oleh kerajaan negeri di pekan Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) pada Sabtu, melanggar peruntukan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - Anwar
Malaysia dalam misi meneroka pelbagai peluang ekonomi dan menarik pelaburan baharu pada Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh, Arab Saudi yang akan berlangsung dua hari bermula hari ini.
Polis Jerman rampas 4 Bugatti Veyron
Jerman merampas empat kereta model Bugatti Veyron yang jarang ditemui dari kemudahan simpanan persendirian di Munich, Jerman, yang dikaitkan dengan skandal 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), menurut laporan media Jerman.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.77 berbanding dolar AS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
DNA kini boleh diambil daripada pendingin hawa bagi tujuan forensik
Setiap benda hidup menghembuskan DNA dalam bentuk air liur atau wap yang dikeluarkan ketika bernafas.
Tulang dijumpai di Tongkang Pechah milik Bella - Polis
Polis mengesahkan beberapa tulang yang ditemui di kawasan rumah terbiar di Tongkang Pechah di Batu Pahat pada 28 Feb lepas milik mangsa kes pembunuhan, Bella.
Rangka manusia sah milik Bella - Polis
Laporan mengesahkan hasil analisis DNA didapati ia sepadan dengan sampel yang diambil dari ibu dan kakak Bella yang dilaporkan hilang Disember lalu.
Kes bunuh Zayn Rayyan: Siasatan sudah 90 peratus - KPN
Siasatan melibatkan pelbagai sudut, termasuk saintifik, forensik serta konvensional, dan selain itu polis sedang memperincikan identiti suspek.
Polis kesan dua kanak-kanak nampak Zayn Rayyan di Blok R sebelum hilang
Polis berjaya mengesan dua kanak-kanak yang sempat melihat kelibat Allahyarham Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin di tingkat dua dan tiga di Blok R, Apartmen Idaman, Damansara Damai pada 5 Disember lalu.
Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh dikenal pasti - Polis
Identiti mayat hampir reput dipercayai dibunuh yang ditemukan berhampiran sebuah kebun kelapa sawit pada 16 Sept lepas telah dikenal pasti.
Saintis China bangunkan program peranti komputer berasaskan DNA
Litar bersepadu terkenal yang digunakan dalam dekad yang lepas kebanyakannya terdiri daripada elektronik dan fotonik berdasarkan semikonduktor.
Kebakaran hutan di Hawaii: 1,100 penduduk masih belum dapat dikesan
Seramai 1,100 orang masih hilang dalam kebakaran hutan luar biasa yang melanda Pulau Maui di Hawaii baru-baru ini.
Pesawat terhempas di Elmina: Polis sahkan hanya 10 mangsa terlibat
Pengesahan dibuat selepas semua spesimen cebisan anggota badan yang ditemukan di lokasi nahas padan dengan ujian DNA ahli keluarga.
Pesawat terhempas di Elmina: Proses bedah siasat selesai, tunggu padanan DNA
Sebanyak 300 sampel cebisan mayat telah dihantar ke Jabatan Kimia bagi tujuan padanan DNA dan 30 peratus berjaya diselesaikan.