Post-disaster Management
Casualty handling directives released
The government has finalised a set of directives for disciplined and dignified handling of dead bodies of people killed in disasters such as floods, cyclones, tidal surges, storms, tornadoes, lightening strikes, fire and sinking of water vessels. The disaster management and relief ministry has published the Post-disaster Management Guideline 2016 under the guidance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This guideline was released at a seminar held at the citys BIAM auditorium yesterday. Disaster management and relief minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, ministry secretary Md Shah Kamal, ministry joint secretary Quamrul Hasan, Disaster Management Directorate director general Riaz Ahmed and ICRC head of delegation Ikhtiyar Aslanov, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
As per the new guideline, the dead bodies should be preserved properly without any defacement. Their documentation should be done diligently and the relevant database updated with their details.
Disaster responsive coordination groups from the city corporation level to the union parishad levels will handle the dead bodies with the support of the Disaster Management Information Centre (DMIC) at the local or national level, the guideline states, adding that updated bulletins about the bodies should be broadcast after specific intervals at the district and national levels.
As per the new guideline, professional handling of the dead is essential for safeguarding the dignity of the deceased, contributing to restoring their identities, returning them to their families, ensuring respectful disposal of their remains and helping to reduce the suffering of communities traumatised by disaster events.
Death due to a disaster is always unexpected and painful. It becomes even more painful for relatives if the bodies are not managed with due respect. So, it is important to determine the proper identification of the bodies, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said.
The government has felt it necessary to prepare a world-class guideline for managing the dead bodies and their identification, the minister said, We have prepared a guideline keeping in line with the policies of the UN, ICRC, and other countries, he added.
Proper management of the dead may also contribute to bringing down the number of missing persons.
All victims killed by disastersboth natural and man-maderequire professional and dignified management, regardless of whether they are known or unknown victims and whether or not they are being sought by their families, Ikhtiyar Aslanov said.
He also said dignified management of the dead requires a comprehensive system with a robust legal framework, clearly outlined and agreed procedures for all concerned actors, and technical capacity in all relevant fields of expertise.
The ICRC works with governmental authorities and other local structures in many places around the world to support the development of relevant programmes and build sustainable local capacities to help ensure that the remains of disaster causalities can be professionally managed in a dignified manner, he added.
Bangladeshs guideline would help to serve as a crucial first step in developing a comprehensive plan for the country and clearly set forth a path for proper planning and coordination, he observed.
