National Geographic Creativeのインスタグラム(natgeointhefield) - 11月8日 23時27分

Photo by @daniele_volpe / Maria Saturnina Us Alvarez (center), accompanied by her daughters Sara Tuyuc Us (left) and Rosario Tuyuc Us, leads a Maya ceremony at her home to honor the loved ones that passed away during Day of the Dead celebrations. The family lost four members during the Guatemalan Civil War. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic they were unable to travel to visit their loved ones’ grave sites. They feel that the pandemic doesn't change how they connect with the deceased since they are used to practicing Mayan spirituality at home.

In Guatemala, and in other countries of the region, the "Day of the Dead" celebrations are deeply felt. The tradition consists of visiting the tombs of loved ones during November 1 and 2. Generally, families bring food and drinks as a way to "share" that with the relatives that died. The tradition is a happy occasion, accompanied by music and surrounded by food street vendors. This year, due to COVID-19, Guatemalan authorities decided to restrict access to the cemeteries to avoid crowds.

After the 36-year-long Guatemalan Civil War (1960-96), according to the UN, Guatemala counts more than 200,000 victims and 45,000 missing people including civilians. After the peace accords, human rights organizations started an effort to find the remains of the "desaparecidos." Chimaltenango was one of the departments of the country hardest hit by the state repression and has well-known atrocities that happened in San Juan Comalapa.

In 2003, forensic anthropologists started digging in a plot of land where an army camp once stood. They found the remains of 220 people in several mass graves. People that were kidnapped by the Guatemalan Army, executed and buried inside that army camp. After DNA analysis, 172 of them are still unidentified.

Taken on assignment for @ナショナルジオグラフィック and @icrc.

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