Death in Disaster. Actions and Attitudes towards Dead Body Management after Disasters in Yogyakarta

This paper explores the actions and attitudes of humanitarian aid workers in relation to dead bodies, with a focus on cadaver management after disasters. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with disaster relief workers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study analyses their views of rights and responsibilities, use of humanitarian standards, priorities, and roles in dead body management. A conceptual framework evaluates theories of human rights of the dead and responsibilities towards the dead, while a literature review pulls together relevant studies from disaster management, public health, and human rights.

The study finds culture, religion, and family shape humanitarian approaches to the dead. The right of survivors to mourn is of particular importance after disaster. The government plays a central role, while humanitarian standards exert influence over dealing with the living but not with the dead. Identification is both a responsibility to the survivors and a priority within dead body management. This study aims to fill a gap in literature and encourage other researchers to look at the effects of the dead on humanitarian crises situations.

Bagherzadeh, N. (2014). Death in Disaster. Actions and Attitudes towards Dead Body Management after Disasters in Yogyakarta. IFHV Working Paper, 4(2).