4.1.4. Engaging Communities with Cultural Sensitivity and Humility

We met the relatives toward the end of the memorial service. They were ostensibly still in shock, and some were still in denial. We consoled them, and out of respect for some of the survivors who could not even walk without help from family members, we had to kneel down to be at their level. All of their names and mobile numbers were written down. Some took our private cell phone numbers, since they had misplaced theirs and it was impossible for us to contact them. As uncomfortable as it was to share private cell phone numbers, the nature and extent of the disaster made it impossible for us to be aloof. The situation was critical, and some people yearned for closure because their loved ones' whereabouts were still undetermined. One woman came up to us and begged us to assist in finding her son, who had been missing for nine days. She mentioned how she wanted to mourn the loss of her son, "like the others", and retrieving his remains was important to her.
