Working to safeguard the dead

Families affected by various forms of tragedies – be they natural or man-made – yearn first and foremost for information. Sometimes a message as simple as “I am alive” can help. They want to know where their loved ones are: did they make it? What happened to them? Who can they still rely on? And who must they put to rest? This is something I learned very early in my career. Confronted with the genocides of Rwanda and Bosnia, or more recently by the earthquake in Nepal, one cannot miss this priority – and the families we continue to deal with do not let us forget. This week, we worry about families and communities in Kerala as they face separation, displacement and unfortunately some deaths.

The Red Cross – as it strives to protect and assist people affected by humanitarian crises – is known for its support to the living. In the ICRC, we undertake health-related interventions and provide economic support, we help keep families together and under shelter, we look at the treatment of prisoners and work with governments to agree on certain limits in weapons use and combatant’s behaviour.

But support for the living also means the dignified management of the dead. It means making sure the dignity and identity of those who have passed away is preserved and their remains returned to their families. It is a challenge, especially in the chaos and destruction of large scale emergency, whether natural disasters or violence induced. The families’ pain and insecurity need answers – both for emotional and psychological wellbeing, and for practical things like resolving legal issues and accessing support. Each of our religions and cultures have minimum standards for how we should treat our dead. We must live up to them.

It is the kind of work that requires a range of specialities and experience, and it requires trust and collaboration. Specifically, it requires organising our forensic knowledge and processes not only for criminal processes, but for humanitarian ones. In this regard, it is important to understand that the ICRC stays entirely clear of criminal justice processes – and is even exempt from giving witness in for example the International Criminal Court – to be better trusted and more effective in responding to the humanitarian needs of families.

India has experienced many forms of emergencies and the country has also played a major role in international operations, one example being the Nepal earthquake of 2015. India has already laid a firm foundation upon which innovative approaches could be adopted in specific areas. The availability of reputable forensic institutions and experts in the country, who are capable and willing to deploy their expertise in providing necessary humanitarian assistance, completes the technical and human commitment that is evident in India.

The inauguration of the world’s first International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics at the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), in collaboration with the ICRC, has been an exciting and proud occasion for us. GFSU was the brainchild of then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat and now current Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and is the first of its kind as a specialist forensics university. 

In the GFSU we have a competent, sustainable but also demanding and ambitious partner – one that seeks the highest demonstration of excellence and global influence. What better platform to prepare India’s, the region’s and the world’s systems to better answer families’ needs. It is a task that honours all associated with it.

The collaboration demonstrates India’s determination to use its technology and talent to serve people both at home and globally. And this joint project represents what humanitarian work can look like in future – a work based on solidarity and partnership, mutual respect and interest, on combining local and international expertise, on building capacity before tragedies hit, and on ensuring responses by competent authorities for those in need. It is a work based as much in the East as in the West, as much in the South as the North.

The ICRC has been working with India for over hundred years through various wars, conflicts and disturbances. Increasingly, we work together on global projects to strengthen humanitarian standards in dealing with new weapons (be they cyber, autonomous or other), in dealing with evacuation crises in Yemen, missing persons in Iraq, detained citizens in South Sudan, or humanitarian debates in New York.

In India, we are also working on common projects aligned with national transformation goals to improve treatment and opportunities for those with disabilities, finding innovative solutions to improve accessibility, improving livelihoods for those affected by violence or instability, helping build the incredible network of the Indian Red Cross volunteers, first aiders and first responders.

We source up to 20 million dollars a year of relief goods and scores of staff from India for our global operations. It is Indian rice that feeds ICRC beneficiaries in Syria, Indian kitchen sets that help communities in Somalia move towards self-reliance, Indian physiotherapy expertise delivered in South Sudan. This partnership we have with India is not just about India – it is about trying together to make our world a little more humane. We are convinced a global reference curricula, teaching and research programme on humanitarian forensics can grow with distinguished partners like GFSU. We see world class promotion, education, national and international consultation, dialogue, technical development and policy work expanding from India. We at the ICRC can offer technical collaboration, humanitarian expertise, and real-time global field-based feedback and operations. We are fully committed to this project - and we will be demanding too. We cannot accept that families do not receive the answers they need. This project is for them.

The author is Head of Regional Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross, New Delhi. Views are personal.