(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The remains of some of those killed in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 have been returned to their famlies in different parts of the world.
But for most families, the wait continues, six weeks after the plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
Kristina Kukolja reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
A funeral service has been held in Malaysia for one of the pilots of Flight MH17.
The remains of Captain Eugene Choo Jin Leong were finally returned home, along with the remains of another eight victims of the disaster.
An urn containing his ashes was taken to his family's home near Kuala Lumpur, where it was put on display for the day to allow family and friends to pay their last respects.
Loi Kong Wah was Captain Leong's brother in law.
"We got shock and we have to accept it, happen already happen already, can't be avoided. We got to accept it."
Fellow pilot and friend, Azlan Abu Bakar, described his experience flying the bodies back from Amsterdam.
"The feeling was horrible, all the way for twelve and the half hours from Amsterdam. It was horrible bringing my very close friend. We used to fly together, and this time we fly together again but in difference situation."
Flight attendant Shahril Irwan Muhammad, said he used to go motorcycle riding with Captain Leong.
"Our biker friends, he's famous with this tagline whereby he always send this 'Jom motoroti'. Motoroti we know it was him, he always initiate this towards our friends to invite for breakfast. He was one of the best captains ever that I know."
Forty three Malaysians, including 15 crew, were among 298 people killed when MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, while on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
There were 38 Australian citizens or residents.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has told parliament that investigators in the Netherlands have made significant progress in identifying the human remains collected at the crash site.
But she's warning that the process remains difficult, and will be slow.
"The Dutch Government have advised that 183 of the 298 passengers and crew on board have now been identified. There's also been progress in terms of DNA testing. However it will be some time before that process is complete, so the whole process of body identification will take weeks, if not months to complete. To protect the privacy of our families I won't go into details of the Australian citizens and residents other than to confirm that a significant number have been identified to date."
And Ms Bishop is emphasising that the Australian government will be continuing efforts to ensure that those responsible for shooting down MH17 are also identified, and held to account.
"This Thursday I will meet Dutch Foreign Minister (Frans) Timmermans at NATO. I will be meeting with (Ukraine's) President (Petro) Poroshenko and Foreign Minister (Pavlo) Klimkin who provided so much support to us as we completed our mission to bring our people home and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure this horrific act is investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten is offering full support for the government's efforts.
"I know we all having spoken to families are appreciative of the consular staff and the people in Australia who have been liaising to the families coming to grips with this incredible trauma and I might just say this too. Speaking to families, some of them made the point that they're very grateful to live in Australia because they are not sure that any other country in the world would have had the same compassion as the Government has had, as the efficiency and professionalism and compassion of our staff and the manner in which this has been conducted has made me proud to be Australian and I congratulate the Government."
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