Yemen: The dead must be collected and treated with respect

Geneva / Sana'a – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is extremely concerned about the number of dead bodies accumulating in the areas where fighting has been most intense in Yemen.

"With the escalation of the fighting, more casualties are being left behind owing to the increased danger associated with retrieving the wounded and the dead," said Nourane Houas, head of the ICRC's Protection Department in Yemen.

International humanitarian law requires that dead bodies be treated properly and with respect. The parties to the conflict must take all feasible measures to evacuate the dead without delay. "We call on all parties to respect the dignity of the dead and to allow their swift recovery, while taking all feasible measures to ensure their proper identification and their handover to the families," added Ms Houas.

Any delay in recovering the dead complicates the identification process and has serious consequences for the families. "Failure to identify the dead puts them in the ranks of the missing, and prevents the families from mourning," explained Ms Houas.

To facilitate identification, it is recommended that all those actively taking part in hostilities wear identifying insignia.

In its capacity as a neutral intermediary, and at the direct request of the parties involved, the ICRC has helped retrieve more than 407 dead bodies since the hostilities erupted in March. This work was carried out in conjunction with the Yemen Red Crescent Society and with the support of the various authorities. However, the retrieval, documentation and identification of the dead remains the primary responsibility of the authorities and the parties on the ground.

For further information, please contact:

Rima Kamal, ICRC Sana'a, tel: +967 1 213844 or + 967 73 607 1967
Adnan Hizam, ICRC Sana'a, tel: + 967 73 372 1659
Jennifer Tobias, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 25 02 or +41 79 536 92 48