The mortuary at Juba Teaching Hospital has been renovated with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help forensics authorities systematically handle the dead with dignity.
"Since the crisis in 2013, the mortuary was damaged and stopped functioning,” said Dr. Isaac Lemi Bashir, medical assistant at Juba Teaching Hospital.
He added, “I used to sleep in the mortuary with a lot of dead bodies dumped outside until they decomposed. The morgue was in very poor shape. There was no freezer, no cooling room, and not even light. The lack of personal protection equipment was a big challenge. For example, we used to utilize the same gloves to wash many dead bodies."
In a statement on Tuesday, the ICRC said it has worked with the authorities to ensure the facility has the equipment and tools to apply the highest possible standards for the dignified management of the dead.
The statement added that the work includes installation of new mortuary fridges and a freezer to ensure the proper storage of a maximum of 33 human remains, installation of a new solar backup power and a backup water supply system to ensure continuous water supply for the mortuary as well as improved rainwater drainage systems.
“Long after conflict, violence or natural disasters are over, the families of those who are missing continue to search and hope for answers on the fate of their loved ones,” said Nourane Houas, protection coordinator at the ICRC. “They never forget. This renovated mortuary is part of our commitment to help the South Sudanese forensic authorities provide answers to families of the missing so that the latter can begin to find closure.”
The ICRC called on the authorities to maintain their commitment to ensure that the facility is run and maintained at the high standards that South Sudanese forensic experts and families they serve expect to have.