Mass Burial of 120 Unidentified Bodies in Suwayda Raises Humanitarian Alarm
Health officials in Suwayda conducted a mass burial for 120 unidentified casualties from recent clashes, as the death toll surpasses 1,300. The remains, stored at National Hospital since July 23, were interred with judicial oversight after families claimed only 380 of 502 bodies.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a solemn move underscoring the scale of the ongoing tragedy in southern Syria, Suwayda health authorities confirmed on Tuesday the mass burial of 120 unidentified bodies in a communal grave on the eastern outskirts of the town of Rahay, following recent waves of violence.
Dr. Osama Qandalaft, Director of Health in Suwayda, and forensic specialist Dr. Akram Naeem, jointly announced in a statement that the remains belonged to victims killed during the recent clashes whose families had not been able to identify them at the National Hospital.
“The bodies, preserved at the National Hospital since July 23, were buried after full documentation,” said Dr. Qandalaft, adding that the operation had been conducted with the approval of local notables and under the supervision of the region’s health teams.
Of the 502 bodies received by the hospital, families have claimed 380, according to Dr. Qandalaft. The remaining 120, left unclaimed and unidentified, were interred in a designated mass grave prepared with the logistical support of local officials and medical staff.
He noted that male and female victims were buried separately, in accordance with established procedures.
Forensic Clarity Amid Chaos
Forensic expert Dr. Akram Naeem emphasized that the burial did not include bodies from outside Suwayda, refuting speculation that victims from other regions had been included in the process.
“Some bodies belong to members of the ‘Public Security’ force, and two others were identified as belonging to members of the ‘Ashiraat’,” Naeem revealed. These remains, he added, are still being held in the morgue at the National Hospital.
Naeem stated that Red Crescent personnel were also informed about the identities and current status of the unburied bodies, in order to coordinate further decisions—whether to transfer the bodies to Damascus or facilitate other arrangements.
Emergency Measures to Halt Further Crisis
Both health officials affirmed that the burial was carried out in the presence of judicial authorities, medical experts, and the Red Crescent. The decision was made to prevent further deterioration in sanitary conditions and to ease pressure on healthcare facilities overwhelmed by the surge in casualties.
The recent escalation of violence in Suwayda has significantly strained local institutions and necessitated urgent humanitarian responses. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 1,300 individuals have lost their lives amid the escalating sectarian killing in the region. As violence and displacement continue to rise, the burial of unclaimed victims underscores the deepening crisis and emphasizes the critical need for coordinated intervention and accountability.
