Latest news with #burial
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sudan Families Bury Loved Ones Twice as War Reshapes Khartoum
Under a punishing mid‑morning sun, Souad Abdallah cradles her infant and stares at a freshly opened pit in al‑Baraka square on the eastern fringe of Sudan's capital. Moments earlier the hole had served as the hurried grave of her husband – one of hundreds of people buried in playgrounds, traffic islands and vacant lots during Sudan's two‑year war. Seven months ago, Abdallah could not risk the sniper fire and checkpoints that ringed Khartoum's official cemeteries. Today she is handed her husband's remains in a numbered white body‑bag so he can receive the dignity of a proper burial. She is not alone. Families gather at the square, pointing out makeshift graves – 'my brother lies here... my mother there' – before forensic teams lift 118 bodies and load them onto flat‑bed trucks known locally as dafaar. The Sudanese war erupted on 15 April 2023 when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army clashed for control of Khartoum, quickly spreading to its suburbs, notably Omdurman. More than 500 civilians died in the first days and thousands more have been killed since, although no official tally exists. The army recaptured the capital on 20 May 2025, but the harder task, officials say, is re‑burying thousands of bodies scattered in mass graves, streets and public squares. 'For the next 40 days we expect to move about 7,000 bodies from across Khartoum to public cemeteries,' Dr. Hisham Zein al‑Abideen, the city's chief forensic pathologist, told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said his teams, working with the Sudanese Red Crescent, have already exhumed and re-interred some 3,500 bodies and located more than 40 mass graves. One newly discovered site at the International University of Africa in southern Khartoum contains about 7,000 RSF fighters spread over a square‑kilometer area, he added. Abdallah, a mother of three, recalled to Asharq Al-Awsat how a stray bullet pierced her bedroom window and killed her husband. 'We buried him at night, without witnesses and without a wake,' she said. 'Today I am saying goodbye again this time with honor.' Nearby, Khadija Zakaria wept as workers unearthed her sister. 'She died of natural causes, but we were barred from the cemetery, so we buried her here,' she said. Her niece and brother‑in‑law were laid in other improvised graves and are also awaiting transfer. Exhumations can be grim. After finishing at al‑Baraka, the team drives to al‑Fayhaa district, where the returning owner of an abandoned house has reported a desiccated corpse in his living room. Neighbors said it is a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighter shot by comrades. In another case, a body is pulled from an irrigation canal and taken straight to a cemetery. Social media rumors that authorities demand hefty fees for re‑burials are untrue, Dr. Zein al‑Abideen stressed. 'Transporting the remains is free. It is completely our responsibility,' he added. The forensic crews rotate in two shifts to cope with the fierce heat. Asked how they cope with the daily horror, one member smiled wanly over a cup of tea, saying: 'We are human. We try to find solutions amid the tragedy. If it were up to us, no family would have to mourn twice.' Khartoum today is burying bodies – and memories. 'We are laying our dead to rest and, with them, part of the pain,' Abdallah said as she left the square, her child asleep on her shoulder. 'I buried my husband twice, but we have not forgotten him for a single day. Perhaps now he can finally rest in peace.'
New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Corrections: July 19, 2025
An article on Wednesday about an excavation in Ireland where the remains of hundreds of children are thought to have been buried described incorrectly the location of some disposed bodies. It was an old sewage system, not septic tanks. The headline of an article on Friday about an N.Y.P.D. officer accused of theft incorrectly described his employment status. He is still employed by the department, but has been suspended without pay. An article on Thursday about the Chinese A.I. industry misquoted Jia Haojun, the founder of Deep Principle. He said it would be a huge benefit if the government helped cover '13 to 15 percent' of early-stage research costs, not '10 to 15 percent.' Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, please email nytnews@ To share feedback, please visit Comments on opinion articles may be emailed to letters@ For newspaper delivery questions: 1-800-NYTIMES (1-800-698-4637) or email customercare@
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
'Why I miss Buhari burial'
Dem don bury former Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari wey die on Sunday. Di state burial wey di Federal goment organise happun on Wednesday for Daura, Katsina state, Northwest Nigeria. Dis na a day afta dem declare public in honour of di former president. Many people including Nigeria President Bola Tinubu, leaders of foreign kontris and diplomats follow for di crowd of mourners wey land for Daura. Also, ogbonge political leaders – both from the ruling and opposition parties lead by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also full for dia. But pesin wey many pipo notice im absence na Peter Obi, leader of di Obidient Movement. A group of young and energetic supporters of di opposition leader wey contest and pull crowd for di 2023 presidential election as a first timer. Many pipo bin dey wonder why Oga Peter Obi no show for di burial. Dis also generate many reactions for social media. Peter Obi tok why e miss Buhari burial Peter Obi na popular voice among young pipo for Nigerian wey don come to appreciate im economic lifestyle. Most times dem dey like to see am ontop national platforms and dem don begin ginger am again to contest di 2027 presidential election. Though e miss di former President burial, Peter Obi later join new set of mourners wey land for Daura. E join former Vice President Atiku, Nasir El-Rufai and oda opposition leaders to visit di family of di deceased former leader. "E dey hard for me to come yesterday [Wednesday] becos like dem tok bifor, e bin dey very hard to get flight to enta Katsina," Obi tell BBC for interview for Daura. E add say "Even wen you get di flight, e dey hard to land for di airport becos e don full. And mourning period na yesterday, today and tomorrow. And whoever dey hia now still dey part of di mourning"
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Former Nigerian President Buhari begin final journey home
All roads go lead to di village of Daura for Katsina State wia di bodi of late President Muhammadu Buhari go dey laid to rest dis Tuesday. Wetin many bin tink say go be simple burial for di 82-year old statesman wey rule Nigeria for two different times, go now be grand state affair. Buhari die for one London Hospital on Sunday 12 July, 2025 from sickness wey neva dey disclosed. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday set up ogbonge committee wey di chairman na di Secretary to di Govment of di Federation George Akume, plus oda top-top govment oga dem to handle di event. Tinubu imsef and oda leaders across Africa dey expected to be present for di burial wey go happen dis afternoon. Govment don also declare Tuesday a public holiday for Nigeria in honour of di late Buhari. BBC Pidgin go bring you updates of di event as e dey go on, but for di meantime, hia na evritin you suppose know about di burial of Buhari, a man wey even im critics agree say na honest leader. Time for di burial Di funeral events proper go start by 14:00 GMT or 2:00 PM Nigerian time, for Buhari hometown Daura, in Daura Local Govment Area, Katsina State. Guvnor of di State Dikko Radda say di bodi of di late President go leave London by 6:00am dis Tuesday and dem expect am to arrive for Katsina at around noon. Already, Vice President Kashim Shettima bin lead a govment delegation wey President Tinubu bin direct to go and accompany Buhari remains from London bak to Nigeria. Di team arrive for London on Monday morning. Tinubu go receive di bodi President Bola Tinubu go receive di body of Muhammadu Buhari for di Katsina Umaru Musa Yar'adua Airport for Katsina, wia a state funeral ceremony go take place bifor dem go take am to Daura, less dan 100 kilometres from Katsina City, for burial, according to di Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris. Aside fro declaring dis Tuesday as a public holiday for di kontri, President Tinubu don also declare seven days of national mourning. E also shift di weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting wey bin suppose hold on Wednesday, to Friday 18 July, to accomodate di burial date. Special committee for di burial Di high-power committee wey Tinubu setu up do handle di funeral arrangements for di late former President Buhari go dey chaired by George Akume, di Secretary to di Goment of di Federation, while di Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, go serve as di secretary. Oda members include:
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Dying proves to be a costly undertaking
Greytown cemetery in South Wairarapa is one of the most affordable places to be buried. Photo: LDR / Emily Ireland It may not be the cheapest place to live, but South Wairarapa is by far the cheapest place to die compared to its neighbouring districts. It cost $1825 for a plot and to be buried in South Wairarapa, the council's 2025-26 list of fees and charges shows. This was just five per cent more than it cost last triennium in the 2022-23 year. In neighbouring Carterton, it cost $2400 - a 30 percent increase on last triennium, and in Masterton, it cost $3340 - a 36 percent increase. Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes said councils' annual increases in burial and cremation fees were a significant driver of funeral costs. "This impacts everyone and especially those who are struggling financially who may be eligible for support through the WINZ Funeral Grant but find that it barely covers these basic council costs," Boyes said. The WINZ Funeral Grant of $2616.12 would not cover council fees for burials in most regions across New Zealand, where those fees can be as high as $7000 in New Plymouth, she said. The nation-wide average was more than $4000. "The sad reality is that at a time when a very low-income family is hurting and grieving and just wants to remember their loved one, they are going to be faced with the added pain of a big bill with fixed basic costs that just keep going up," Boyes said. She said the current WINZ Funeral Grant no longer reflected the true cost of even a basic farewell, "especially where council fees are significant". "We urgently need a review to ensure fair support for grieving families and to prevent funeral providers from carrying the reputational cost of a system that's no longer fit for purpose." She called on the government to commit to increasing the WINZ Funeral Grant to match the average increase in council fees for burials and cremation, rather than just CPI. The Association took a sample of 23 cemeteries and found Makara in Wellington had the lowest burial costs [$1823]. This did not include a maintenance fee of $664. New Plymouth had the highest [$7207]. In Wairarapa, cremation remained the cheapest charge at $240 for ashes to be buried at South Wairarapa cemeteries at $315 for a cremation plot. It cost $385 for a cremation berm in Carterton and $400 for a cremation berm in Masterton. A service offered at Carterton, but not its neighbouring districts was natural burial, which cost $4387. This included the costs of the plot, burial, compost, and tree to be planted. It was one of about a dozen certified natural burial locations in New Zealand. Charges apply to those who live outside the district they wish to be buried at. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
