In Khartoum, exhumation of makeshift graves reawakens families' grief

"Iman Abdel-Azim had to bury her brother in the courtyard of her home in Khartoum North when he died as fighting between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces raged around them. Her neighbours had to help her bury him because it was impossible to access cemeteries in the fighting. She was not the only resident of the capital region's three cities Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman who had to do this."

"After Khartoum State announced at the beginning of December a major effort to exhume the remains of people buried in this makeshift manner and move them to cemeteries, Abdel-Azim feels her grief has been renewed as she relives the pain of losing a loved one. State and local committees were formed to implement the exhumations. They are made up of representatives from forensic medicine, Civil Defence, the Sudanese Red Crescent, and neighbourhood management and services committees."

"Ahmed Abdel Rahman, executive director of Khartoum North, told Al Jazeera that the campaign aims to alleviate the psychological burden on families and improve the health and humanitarian situation in the capital region. According to Abdel Rahman, the campaign is being overseen by the High Committee for Collecting the Remains of Those Who Died During the Battle of Dignity. The process will unfold in stages, the first of which is identifying makeshift burial sites."

Fighting in Khartoum forced residents to bury loved ones in yards and streets when cemeteries were inaccessible. Khartoum State launched an effort in early December to exhume those makeshift burials and transfer remains to cemeteries. State and local committees comprised forensic medicine, Civil Defence, the Sudanese Red Crescent, and neighbourhood management and services committees are implementing the operation. Families are notified and may nominate a representative to participate in each step from exhumation to reburial. Forensic medicine specialists supervise exhumations with full documentation. Officials say the campaign seeks to reduce psychological burdens on families and improve health and humanitarian conditions in the capital region.

Read at www.aljazeera.com