MUAN, South Korea: South Koreans ended the year in nationwide mourning on Tuesday, with bereaved families gathered at Muan Airport to receive the bodies of their loved ones killed in the deadliest-ever aviation disaster on the country’s soil.

The crash of Jeju Air flight 7CC216 from Bangkok to the southern Muan County on Sunday killed 179 people when the plane skidded off the runway, hit a concrete mound and exploded into flames. Only two people — both flight attendants — survived.

Investigators have recovered over 600 body parts from the crash site so far, as relatives and friends waited at the airport for authorities to release the victims’ remains.

“I am sorry the identification process took longer than initially promised,” said Na Won-oh, head investigator of the police in Jeonnam Province, where the airport is located.

All but five bodies have been identified as of Tuesday afternoon, as officials began to release the remains in the process expected to take another few days.

All the passengers were South Koreans, except for two Thai nationals.

“I am so heartbroken, and this is so tiring. It is really, really difficult for me,” said Park Han-shin, who lost his younger brother in the disaster.

Cries of angry relatives scolding authorities echoed through the airport, after they discovered that the bodies were spread out on the ground and not placed in refrigerators as officials had promised to do earlier.

“Our brothers, siblings and family are lying on the floor. We had demanded a cold storage unit, but (the government) did not provide it. We have to take back the bodies in good condition,” Park said.

The units were brought in later, following the complaints.

During another round of identification on Tuesday morning, people embraced one another and began to cry as officials read out the victims’ names.

“My daughter is really dead,” a woman said, hugging her husband after they heard their child’s name.

When several lawmakers made their way through the airport’s halls to meet the grieving families, a father cried:

“I just want him to find peace. He is lying there … God knows where … I want to take my son home.”

Another man showed a photo of his son to Korean lawmaker Jung Chung-rae as he fell into sobs.

“He was so handsome. Now I can’t see him,” he said. “We are all just holding it in. We are all just hanging on because we are all going through the same thing.”

South Korea is observing seven days of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and memorials set up across the nation.

The crash on Sunday was the deadliest aviation accident ever on South Korean soil.

At the Muan airport, families were overseeing the set-up of a memorial, with dozens of black-and-white flowers filling the area. Mourners were trickling in to pay respects for the victims.

“A few people from my neighborhood were also killed. There is a memorial in our town as well, but I wanted to come support the bereaved,” said Nam Eun-hui, who drove almost two hours to reach the site.

“When I first heard of the accident on the news, I thought more people would be saved. I didn’t know it would be such a big tragedy.”

GENEVA: UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Tuesday that Afghanistan’s governing Taliban authorities must reverse their ban on Afghan women working for NGOs.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women have been progressively erased from public spaces, prompting the United Nations to denounce the “gender apartheid” the administration has established.
“I am deeply alarmed at the recent announcement by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan that non-governmental organizations’ licenses will be revoked if they continue to employ Afghan women. This is absolutely the wrong path being taken,” Turk said in a statement.
He said that in a letter dated Thursday, the Taliban’s economy ministry ordered national and international NGOs to comply with a decree issued two years ago which bars them from employing Afghan women.
“The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with more than half the population living in poverty. NGOs play a vital role in providing critical life-saving assistance — to Afghan women, men, girls and boys — and this measure will directly impact the ability of the population to receive humanitarian aid,” said Turk.
“I once again urge the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to revoke this deeply discriminatory decree, and all other measures which seek to eradicate women and girls’ access to education, work and public services, including health care, and that restrict their freedom of movement.
“No country can progress — politically, economically or socially — while excluding half of its population from public life.
“For the future of Afghanistan, the de facto authorities must change course.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power, women have been progressively erased from public spaces, prompting the United Nations to denounce the “gender apartheid” the administration has established.
Taliban authorities have banned post-primary education for girls and women, restricted employment and blocked access to parks and other public places.
A recent law prohibits women from singing or reciting poetry in public under the Taliban government’s ultra-strict application of Islamic law. It also encourages them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside the home.
Some local radio and television stations have also stopped broadcasting female voices.
The Taliban administration claims that Islamic law “guarantees” the rights of Afghan men and women.