Mass Disasters

A disaster is an event caused by nature or by man, and is of such a magnitude that it usually results in death, injuries and damages to private and public property that cannot be managed with regular government procedures or routine resources.
These events require the immediate, coordinated and effective response from multiple organizations, NGO’s, the government and industrial sector. Combined efforts are needed to satisfy the medical, logistical and emotional requirements of the individuals affected by the event. 

Natural disasters include phenomena such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, storms and earthquakes. Disasters of human origin include plane crashes, derailed trains, fires, spillages of toxic substances and explosions. It also includes riots or violent crowds, gun fights, bombings and war. Certain locations or communities are more prone to disasters depending on specific risk factors.

Routine emergencies or crisis incidents do not exceed the capacity of organizations or governments. These events include car accidents, suicides, fires and gun fights.

In most disaster situations, human lives are lost besides the material damages. In such cases it is important to determine how to recover the bodies or human remains in order to return them to their families. Each situation has a different difficulty level and specific resources are required to recover the bodies; additionally each situation has to be addressed considering the environment of the place, and has to be carried out at the appropriate time, using the appropriate means to identify individuals.

Since these events occur without warning, the actions to take depend on the set of circumstances. Nevertheless, in FAFG’s experience, certain actions should be taken in most of the cases, but can be modified accordingly:
• Visit the area. 
• Define the resources required to recover the bodies.
• Define the structuring system to apply while the recovering activities last.  .
• Ante mortem investigations using personal interviews.
• Collect the documentation from all of the victims. (birth certificate, ID card, etc.)
• Proceed with a campaign to inform all the community about the phases and the advances of the work being performed.
• Recover the bodies of the victims.
• Analyze the bodies and remains.
• Perform DNA tests when required.
• Always maintain good communication with the relatives of the victims.
• Systematically register and analyze the information obtained or generated.
• Maintain the Chain of Custody at all times.
• Adequately document the research process.
• Return the bodies to their relatives and support them during the burial and process of mourning