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OMP urges Govt. to call in international expertise to recover remains from landslides
View(s):The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) has requested that the government seek international expertise to recover bodies buried in landslides and to track persons reported missing following the Cyclone Ditwah disaster, a commissioner from the office said.
OMP Commissioner Mirak Raheem told the Sunday Times that the office had urged the government to request international teams specialising in the recovery of missing people’s remains following landslides so that families could conduct funeral rites with due dignity for the dead.
The OMP commissioner, while noting that persons who go missing after natural disasters fall outside its mandate, said, “Drawing on its experience of dealing with families of the missing and disappeared, the office stressed the importance of prioritising the search to recover the bodies of the missing due to Cyclone Ditwah.”
Mr Raheem pointed out the ongoing humanitarian efforts by a rapid team from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to recover the remains of the persons who went missing.
The UAE Rapid team, consisting of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, was involved in search and rescue missions in the hardest-hit areas as well as in the delivery of urgent supplies such as essential food items and emergency shelter materials for displaced families.
Meanwhile, the Registrar General’s office has initiated the process of issuing death certificates to the families of missing persons in the disaster-hit areas following a fresh gazette notification that outlined the procedure.
Accordingly, the family of a missing person can submit an affidavit with the relevant Grama Sevaka informing of the disappearance. The affidavit will be displayed publicly for two weeks for any objections. Thereafter, relevant Zonal Registrar offices will be advised to issue death certificates to the affected families who come with the Divisional Secretary’s recommendation and supporting documents from the Coroner.
According to the department, at least 126 death certificates have been issued so far for those who were reported to be missing in the landslides.
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