A UN investigation has found that more than 200 mass graves containing thousands of bodies have been found in areas of Iraq that were once controlled by the Islamic State. The UN human rights office added it believes more such graves could be found in the future. The agency said they were found mostly in the northern and western parts of the country and could contain between 6,000 to 12,000 bodies. The agency's spokesperson called on Iraq to help with giving bereaved families some closure.
"….We are calling on the government of Iraq to establish a public centralised registry of missing persons, as well as a federal office of missing persons……. The mass grave sites documented in our report are a testament to harrowing human loss, profound suffering and shocking cruelty. Determining the circumstances surrounding the significant loss of life will be an important step in the mourning process for families, and their journey to secure truth and justice."
The UN agency also urged the international community to provide more resources and support to the Iraqi government to help carry out a detailed forensic search of the sites.
