Aden – Authorities in Yemen’s southern city of Aden have buried more than 50 unidentified bodies this week, following years of storage in hospital morgues due to the inability to locate their families or confirm their identities.

The burial operation, overseen by local health officials and forensic teams, took place at a designated cemetery on the outskirts of the city. The bodies had been accumulating in refrigerated units at several hospitals, some dating back as far as 2019, according to medical sources.

Officials cited prolonged conflict, displacement, and the breakdown of civil registry systems as key reasons for the delay in identification and burial. Many of the deceased were victims of violence, accidents, or natural causes, but lacked documentation or family contact.

“This was a humanitarian and logistical necessity,” said a spokesperson from the Aden Health Directorate. “We followed legal procedures, including forensic sampling and documentation, in case future identification becomes possible.”

Human rights advocates have expressed concern over the growing number of unclaimed bodies in conflict-affected regions of Yemen, calling for improved coordination between hospitals, civil registries, and humanitarian organizations to prevent similar situations in the future.

The burial marks a somber reminder of the toll Yemen’s prolonged crisis continues to take on its civilian population, particularly in terms of identity loss, family separation, and institutional collapse.