MH17: the Malaysian experience
- Author:
Khoo Lay See
;
Hasmi Ahmad Hafizam
;
Abdul Ghani Aziz Sarah Aziz
;
Ibrahim Mohamad Azaini
;
Mahmood Mohd Shah
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
disaster;
Disaster Victim Identification (DVI);
MH17;
Malaysia
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2016;38(1):1-10
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
A disaster is a natural or man-made (or technological) hazard resulting in an event of substantial extent
causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment.
It is a phenomenon that can cause damage to life and property and destroy the economic, social and
cultural life of the people; and overwhelms the capacity of the community to cope with the event.
The recent tragic aviation accidents in 2014 involving Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17
shocked the world in an unprecedented manner. This paper focuses on the Malaysian experience in
the MH17 mission in Ukraine as well as the first ever international Disaster Victim Identification
(DVI) operation for the Malaysian DVI team. The DVI operations in Hilversum, the Netherlands
were well described in stages. The Netherlands’ Landelijk Team Forensische Opsporing as the lead
DVI team in Hilversum operated systematically, ensuring the success of the whole mission. This
paper discusses the lessons learned by the Malaysian team on proper DVI structure, inter- and
intra-agency cooperation, facilities planning and set up, logistics and health and safety aspects, as
well as effective communication and collaboration with other international delegates. Several issues
and challenges faced by the Malaysian team were also documented. In addition, the authors shared
views, opinions and recommendations for a more comprehensive DVI operation in the future.
- Full text:P020160531432031623763.pdf
