The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in association with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), conducted one-day orientation sessions for three faith-based organisations in Bandarban, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, on safely handling the dead during emergencies.
The organisations are Islamic Foundation, Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust and Bandarban Christian Association.
Each organisation also received emergency preparedness kits containing the materials required for the safe handling of the dead.
During emergencies, handling of the dead is often tasked to local organisations or individuals from the community and faith-based organisations.
These groups of people need to be trained for the responsibilities placed on them.
Proper handling of the dead also ensures that the dignity and the rights of the deceased and their families are respected, and the dead do not become missing persons through the inappropriate action.
Explaining the importance of these sessions, Jenny Hughes, ICRC forensic specialist, said: “The purpose of these orientation sessions is to offer local volunteers basic and practical instruction on applying best practices to appropriately and respectfully recover and transfer dead bodies for proper examination, identification, and deposition.”
“We intend also to dispel fears and myths regarding interaction with the dead and to demonstrate the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), body bags, and emergency preparedness kits.”
The ICRC has developed an emergency preparedness kit for the safe handling of the dead. Each kit is designed to support 10 body handlers with PPE, body bags, and data collection materials for the recovery of up to 20 bodies.
Source: United News of Bangladeshy