DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) - Almost two weeks after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was blown out of the sky, the remains of some passengers are feared rotting in the 90-degree midsummer heat, deepening the frustration of relatives desperate to recover the bodies of their loved ones.
Fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatist rebels has kept away international police charged with securing the site, a sprawling area of farmland and villages. And until it's secured, there is no way for forensic experts to gather up any remaining bodies or collect debris for analysis.
Even the rebels - who initially oversaw the collection of more than 200 of the 298 bodies in a disorganized, widely criticized effort - have stopped their work, saying attacks from the Ukrainian military have forced them to focus on defending themselves.
It remains unclear exactly how many bodies remain and what condition they are in after being exposed for so long to the elements. Dutch officials are adamant there are still bodies to be recovered, and Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said repeatedly that bringing them back is his government's top priority.
But Dutch officials were gloomy Wednesday about the prospects of reaching the site any time soon.