While I am preparing a variety of blogs about my recent travels to dam affected communities, I wanted to post a brief photo essay from a repatriation that took place Friday at the cemetery in Rabinal.

Six sets of remains were buried after a series of exhumations in the village of Chitucan this past year which were led by ADIVIMA and FAFG. An all night velorio took place at ADIVIMA Thursday, ending with a procession to the cemetery and a burial at noon. It has rained nonstop for days in Rabinal, however the showers tapered off just before the procession left the ADIVIMA compound and did not start again until we had returned.

At the grave site, prayers were offered, incense burned and the remains were placed in the grave in a tidy row along with boxes filled with clothes and associated items found with the bodies. Women left offerings, flowers and lit candles after the grave was closed and a final prayer was offered by the president of ADIVIMA and member of the exhumations staff, Pedrina.

Tonight, my prayers are with the victims’ families from Chitucan.