MH17: More family members flown to Amsterdam to identify remains

KUANTAN: More family members of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 tragedy have been flown to Amsterdam to identify the remains of the victims and to manage their belongings.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (pix) said they were among family members of the victims who had been identified by the MH17 Victims Identification Board and scheduled to be brought back next Tuesday.
"According to the Standard Operations Procedure, as soon as Amsterdam confirmed who would be brought back, we would inform their families.
"We dare not inform early because it involves the sensitivities of their families.
"Once the identities of the remains have been confirmed, then their family members would be taken to Amsterdam to manage their belongings and identify them, and (in the case of the third batch to be brought home), several family members have been flown there (Amsterdam)," she said.
She was speaking to reporters after officiating the meetings of the Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno Paya Division Delegates Meetings simultaneously.
It was also attended by Umno Division Head Datuk Abdul Manan Ismail and Wanita Umno Division Head Datuk Seri Zaharah Sulaiman.
She said a final meeting to receive the third batch of remains would be held on Monday, to be chaired by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as Chairman of the Committee to receive the Remains of the MH17 Victims.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in a press conference held in Seremban today said the remains of five victims and four urns of ashes would arrive in the country from Amsterdam, at 8.30am on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Rohani once again stressed that her ministry would continue providing counselling and other aid to the families of the passengers and crew of MH17 until their emotions had stabilised.
"Although the victims have been buried, there are still family members whose emotions have to be stabilised. Similarly, we also have to help with other matters such as the welfare and schooling of the children," she said.
She said so far the ministry had conducted 40 intervention sessions with family members of the victims. Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board.
The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country. – Bernama