ICRC: Thousands of Bodies in Gaza at Risk of Never Being Identified
Istanbul (ANTARA) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that thousands of Palestinians believed to be still buried under the rubble in Gaza may never be identified, as search and recovery efforts continue to face major obstacles, according to a report by The Guardian.
The report notes that rescue and body recovery operations remain slow despite the fragile US-mediated ceasefire that began in October. Meanwhile, the passage of time increases the likelihood that the condition of the remains will deteriorate to the point where they are no longer recognisable.
“There is no doubt that the bodies could soon become difficult to identify,” said Pat Griffiths, a Red Cross spokesperson in Jerusalem.
“The longer the body evacuation process is delayed, the more difficult the identification process will be. The longer victims remain under the rubble, the greater the likelihood of advanced decomposition, even leaving only skeletons when they are finally found,” she said.
She added that forensic experts could lose access to supporting evidence previously used to help confirm the identities of the victims.
Palestinians have now begun sifting through approximately 61 million tonnes of debris accumulated during the war. Health authorities in Gaza estimate that at least 10,000 people are still buried under the rubble, while some experts believe this number could reach 14,000.
According to The Guardian’s report, search teams largely rely on simple equipment such as shovels, pickaxes, wheelbarrows, rakes, hoes, and even bare hands to evacuate bodies.
Repeated requests to allow the entry of excavators and other heavy machinery to accelerate the recovery process have so far not received approval.
“The search and recovery teams need access to all locations where bodies are suspected to be,” said Griffiths.
“We know that most of this machinery and equipment is still almost impossible to bring into Gaza at this time. Therefore, we continue to call for and discuss directly with the relevant authorities so that this equipment is permitted to enter Gaza,” she continued.
An Israeli official contacted by The Guardian stated that no approval has been granted to bring in equipment used in the body evacuation process into Gaza.
The ICRC assesses that prolonged delays could hinder future identification efforts. Environmental conditions, the movement of remains, and the loss of personal belongings have the potential to erase vital forensic evidence required in the identification process.
“We see the magnitude of the task that must be undertaken and understand what is at stake. Thousands of families are still searching for answers regarding the fate of their loved ones. That is what is at stake: their right to know the fate of their family members,” said Griffiths.