BBC News - Syria mass graves: Daunting task of searching for and naming the dead | BBC News
The White Helmet Rescue Team in Syria has uncovered mass graves containing body remains, believed to be victims of Assad's detention centers. These discoveries are becoming more frequent, with locals reporting numerous mass graves across the country. Families of the missing are desperate for closure, but often only find remains. The White Helmets, the only group equipped for forensic analysis, are overwhelmed with calls about potential grave sites. Human rights organizations estimate over 100,000 Syrians are missing from Assad's prisons, with at least 80,000 presumed dead. Despite the grim findings, families continue to search for their loved ones, hoping for closure even if it means finding only remains. The scale of the atrocities suggests the number of those killed could be much higher than reported.
Key Points:
- Mass graves in Syria contain remains of those missing from Assad's detention centers.
- White Helmets are the primary group conducting forensic analysis on discovered graves.
- Over 100,000 Syrians are missing, with at least 80,000 presumed dead from Assad's prisons.
- Families seek closure by finding remains of their loved ones.
- The actual number of victims may be much higher than current estimates.