Don't visit MH17 crash site: Dutch gov't

It is absolutely not a good idea for people to travel to the crash site of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in the Ukraine, the Ministry of Security and Justice has said.

The statement comes after the story broke that Dutchman Robby Oehlers, a singer/songwriter from Amsterdam had traveled to Donetsk in hopes of finding a trace of his niece Daisy, one of the passengers who perished when the aircraft was shot down. Daisy’s remains have not yet been identified and Oehlers who said he had hoped to find anything admitted upon his return to the Netherlands that “they said it is dangerous there, and yes it is.”

An official at the Ministry of Security and Justice said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against traveling to the crash site. “We stress that it unadvisable for anyone to travel there; we advise people to leave the area as soon as possible.”

Oehlers’ story caught the attention of Second Chamber members Mark Verheijen (VVD) and Harry van Bommel (SP). Verheijen said it was touching, but also risky. “I understand the emotions that would make someone want to travel there. Brains and feelings work against each other, but it remains unwise to travel there,” Verheijen said.

Van Bommel asked why if Oehlers made it to the crash site, researchers had difficulty getting there. “You would think we would be able to return soon with a formal mission. We need to negotiate with the rebels so we don’t have to bring armed security guards along,” he urged.

Experts fear that when winter comes around the crash site will be inaccessible for months; the longer the search for remaining human remains is halted, the smaller the chances that researchers will still find anything.