Burying the dead

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
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A bit of a morbid title for a thread, I know. It refers to the oft repeated 'fact' in recent media reporting that dead bodies need to be buried as quickly as possible because of the risk of disease. I have heard many a time from my health worker colleagues (including one of the people quoted in this article)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3757199.stm

that this is a misconception. Despite this, many of the dead are being buried in undignified mass graves without being identified, leading to additional trauma and distress for the survivors left behind who will never have the chance to observe the rituals that are so important emotionally and psychologically at a time of such violent bereavement.

Having said that, I don't dispute that corpses in rivers will make the water dangerous to drink, and that is why distribution of safe drinking water has to be an absolute priority in these circumstances. Oxfam in the DR are already doing this and I hear they have managed to get safe drinking water distributed to survivors on the Haitian side as well.

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/press/releases/haiti260504.htm

Chiri