Preparations underway to prepare for funerals of Christchurch massacre victims

Members of New Zealand's Muslim community and officials watch as graves are prepared at a Muslim cemetery following the Friday mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Sunday. - AP Photo/Mark Baker

PETALING JAYA: Twenty people specialised in preparing bodies for Muslim burial will be brought in from other cities in New Zealand to assist in funeral preparations and prayers for the murdered victims of the Christchurch terror attack.

According to a statement by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz), "as there were many deceased Muslims, it is imperative that we have enough Muslims who can perform the washing and other jenazah requirements."

It further stated that 20 Muslims specialising in such matters were being flown in from Auckland and Wellington.

Fianz is a federation of several regional New Zealand Muslim Associations and the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had met with its officials in the wake of the attack.

Fianz also said it was preparing counsellors to deal with those who survived the attacks and the affected families.

"We have been told to monitor their announcements from time to time on their Facebook, they have yet to announce when the jenazah (funeral) prayers will be held.

"We are still waiting as the bodies have yet to be claimed," said Malaysian survivor Noor Yahaya Azman.

The terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch on Friday (March 15) saw 50 people shot dead and more than 40 people injured.

An Australian man, Brenton Tarrant, has been charged with the attack.