Search teams have recovered 198 bodies from the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17’s crash site, Ukrainian government’s State Emergency Service reported on Sunday.
However, the agency lamented that rebel fighters are hampering the retrieval operations in the area, just 40 kilometers from the Russian border, according to CNN.
A total of 298 people were on board the plane from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was allegedly shot by a missile from Donetsk, a region controlled by pro-Russian separatists on Thursday. Western countries, particularly the United States, said there is a growing evidence proving the rebels’ involvement and called on Russia to help end the conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. State Department also condemned the chaotic conditions on the ground, especially the rebels’ removal of bodies and some part of the wreckage.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– U.S. State Department”]
There are multiple reports of bodies being removed, parts of the plane and other debris being hauled away, and potential evidence tampered with. This is unacceptable and an affront to all those who lost loved ones and to the dignity the victims deserve.
[/quote]
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council will draft a resolution condemning the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 and set to vote on it as early as Monday, reports Reuters.
Australia, who lost 28 citizens, disseminated a draft resolution to demand the rebels in the area to give full access to the crash site and call on all states in the region to cooperate in the probe.
The draft resolution “condemns in the strongest terms the shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 … resulting in the tragic loss of 298 lives” and “demands that all states and other actors in the region refrain from acts of violence directed against civilian aircraft.”
