Bshop\/Bosnia\/Brief.1\/96<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
24th September 1996<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rachel Bentley<\/p>\n
Project Director<\/p>\n
Children on the Edge<\/p>\n
BRIEF FOR MEETING ON 25 SEPTEMBER 1996<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a result of our telephone conversation on 13 September 1996 Kids in Desperate Situations (KIDS) have prepared this brief for our meeting on 25 September 1996. I hope you will find it interesting.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The aim of this brief is twofold:\u00a0 to provide information on KIDS, and to give information on projects in Bosnia researched by KIDS which may be useful in the decision making process of Children on the Edge when considering a humanitarian project in Bosnia.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Please find enclosed:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Page<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An introduction to KIDS………………………………………………….. 2-4<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A report from the KIDS Sarajevo office………………………………. 5-6<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some areas of assistance in which KIDS can offer advice…………7-8<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Outline of events in the Former Yugoslavia from 1990-1995 …9-12<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Also enclosed are:<\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Available projects from The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.\u00a0 These are just a few examples of possible options.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A snapshot of Sarajevo and KIDS projects.<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A small selection of press cuttings and articles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n V A FERGUSON<\/p>\n Staff Sergeant, UK Army<\/p>\n Director KIDS<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n From:\u00a0 Staff Sergeant V A Ferguson AGC(SPS)<\/em><\/p>\n Ground Liaison Element<\/p>\n RAF Liaison Detachment<\/p>\n Headquarters<\/p>\n Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps<\/p>\n Vicenza<\/p>\n British Forces Post Office 571<\/p>\n Tel:\u00a0 0039 444 397809<\/p>\n Mobile:\u00a0 0039 335 381524<\/p>\n Fax:\u00a0 0039 444 927804<\/p>\n Ms Rachel Bentley<\/p>\n Project Director<\/p>\n Children on the Edge<\/p>\n Body Shop Foundation \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a024th September 1996<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Please find below information on the Non-Governmental Organisation, \u2018Kids in Desperate Situations\u2019(KIDS).<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The volunteers working for KIDS are:<\/p>\n Staff Sergeant Vic Ferguson AGC(SPS)\u00a0 Tel:\u00a0 as above or 0049 172 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2327991 (mobile)<\/p>\n Mrs Amanda Ferguson\u00a0 Tel:\u00a0 0049 2161 894306<\/p>\n Miss Marina Bowder\u00a0 (Sarajevo regional office Tel:\u00a0 00387 71 \u00a0 443233)<\/p>\n Mr Armin Alagic (Bosnian) (Sarajevo regional office)<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Background<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0 Whilst in Sarajevo on a six month operational tour which began on 22 November 1995 Staff Sergeant Ferguson met an 11 year old girl called Hurmija Mujic in Sarajevo\u2019s Kosevo hospital.\u00a0 Hurmija had been paralysed by shell fragments embedded in her spine.\u00a0 She is from Srebrenica, which fell under tragic circumstances last summer.\u00a0 Her Father and two older brothers have been missing, presumed dead, since July 1995.\u00a0 By March 1996 sufficient funds had been raised, through public appeals and from the generosity of soldiers and their families, to fund the evacuation of Hurmija and her mother, twin sister (who was also injured) and their younger sister. \u00a0Logistics were put in place also for the evacuation of three other families, from differing ethnic backgrounds, from Tuzla, East and West Mostar.<\/p>\n KIDS was born out of this experience in May 1996, to carry on the work started by Staff Sergeant Ferguson in a more formal way and with broader horizons.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong>4. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mission Statement<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0 Kids in Desperate Situations (KIDS) is a Sarajevo-based mission of\u00a0 local and international volunteers connected by their interest in helping children affected by war.\u00a0 These children have urgent medical, educational or material needs which remain\u00a0unaddressed by the international community and are outside the sphere of local humanitarian activities.\u00a0 KIDS plans to tackle one major project at a time, while gathering information on others.\u00a0 This ensures that each project is completed in the shortest time possible, thereby promoting efficiency.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS\u2019 principle aim is to continue raising funds for, and giving assistance to, individual children whose lives can be saved by prompt medical evacuation.\u00a0 KIDS has carried on this work under the umbrella of Child Advocacy International (CAI), a UK Registered Charity (No 1048781), by giving direct support to the staff of CAI by funding travel, subsistence and treatment costs for children selected for consideration by KIDS and any other expenses involved in the evacuation and\/or medical care for the selected children.\u00a0\u00a0 Each case is considered by CAI staff and advice given on the benefit for the child might gain from evacuation.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In addition to medical evacuations KIDS undertakes such projects as repairing facilities for children, obtaining equipment for schools and orphanages, distributing clothing, toys and other\u00a0 materials.\u00a0 KIDS is also running projects to procure computers and educational equipment for international child-to-child E-mail communication.\u00a0 Together with gifts of material and educational aid these projects are implemented in schools and institutions which lie outside the usual aid circuits and are normally carried out using materials donated by members of the public.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The following will give you an idea of what has been achieved in the last 9 months:<\/p>\n Hurmija and her family returned to their home in Sarajevo in July 1996.\u00a0 Whilst in UK Hurmija received a full assessment of her injuries but, unfortunately, an operation to help her walk unaided was not possible.\u00a0 However, she received extensive rehabilitation and can now walk with the aid of her gait orthosis.\u00a0 Both Hurmija and her family received psychiatric counseling and the girls all went to school whilst in the United Kingdom, and can now speak some English.<\/p>\n Hurmija is at home full-time and can now move around the family apartment.\u00a0 She attends the same school as her sisters and now shares far more of their lives.\u00a0 A wonderful achievement after Hurmija spent almost 2 years in a hospital bed.\u00a0 The family live in a third floor apartment.\u00a0 KIDS is trying very hard to obtain ground floor accommodation in order that Hurmija can lead an even more normal life.<\/p>\n KIDS staff in Sarajevo continue to visit Hurmija regularly and provide anything that she needs, including catheters and drugs.\u00a0 She receives regular physiotherapy from an Italian NGO based in Sarajevo.<\/p>\n Of the other 3 children evacuated in March 1996, Elvis Kovacevic (age 14) and Adnan (Ado) Cosic (age 16 months), both had successful heart surgery and are fit, healthy and back in Bosnia.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Ivo Susac (age 7) from West Mostar proved incurable and returned home four weeks after the evacuation.\u00a0 The most recent evacuation was that of Medina Karic, a two year old girl from Zenica.\u00a0 Medina was suffering from congenital heart disease and would most certainly have died if left in Bosnia.\u00a0 She was evacuated to Priory Hospital in Birmingham on 27 August 1996.\u00a0 The operation (key-hole surgery of the heart, one of the first operations of this kind to have been performed on such a young child) was successful.\u00a0 Medina is now fully recovered and returned to Bosnia on 23 August 1996.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS have also evaluated three other children who need evacuation.\u00a0 5 year old Suada Hukic who has congenital heart disease, 12 year old Amela Cengic who has severe scoliosis and 12 year old Ajsa Softic who also has a heart condition.\u00a0 The medical examination reports show that each of these children need life-saving treatment urgently.<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS continues to support schools and kindergartens, orphanages, institutes for the blind, mental and physically handicapped in Bosnia and Croatia with material aid, food, educational supplies and computers. KIDS is also trying to help set up a paraplegic basketball team in Sarajevo, an effort which will require equipment, specialized wheelchairs, sports strip, balls, and nets.<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can see from the above information that we have achieved an awful lot to help these children over the last 9 months.\u00a0 The range of activities is diverse, but KIDS staff see a need, and we try to help wherever we can.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n V A FERGUSON<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Director\u00a0 KIDS<\/span><\/p>\n This is an initial description of the situation we have identified in Sarajevo institutions regarding child care.<\/p>\n A:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kosevo Hospital<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n During conversations with Dr. Terzic and the Director of the Paediatric Clinic in Kosevo hospital [Bosnia’s principal hospital], we learned the following:<\/p>\n 1) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There are no intensive care units for children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before the war, all children requiring intensive care were immediately referred to Belgrade. Today, child victims of such accidents as landmine explosions and traffic incidents can only be referred to Zagreb, where their parents have to bear all costs. Those children whose parents cannot pay risk death or permanent disabilities, having no choice but to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina and rely on whatever inadequate care possibilities exist.<\/p>\n 2) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No facilities exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the treatment of cancer in children.\u00a0 Patients are, again, referred to Zagreb, at their own expense.<\/p>\n 3) \u00a0 \u00a0 All infants weighing less than a kilogram at birth die due to a lack of incubators.<\/p>\n 4) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The orthopaedic and paraplegic units at Kosevo hospital are extremely short of equipment, have only limited therapeutic facilities, and virtually none for children.\u00a0 This became clear already when we started working with the case of Hurmija Mujic.<\/p>\n B:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Specialized schools.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sarajevo’s schools for the care of physically and mentally handicapped children\u00a0 (the schools for visual and auditory handicap, and the school of defectology) have now come under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Trust and additional organisations. All now have supplies, equipment, teacher funding and training schemes, and are undergoing renovation.<\/p>\n C. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Childrens’ homes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Sarajevo has 2 of these, the Dom Bjelave Home, and the Catholic Convent home. The first is under the umbrella of Colonel Mark Cook’s organisation (Hope and Homes for Children). The convent is raising funds, but no\u00a0 children are currently living there (the government has fears that they will be indoctrinated).<\/p>\n You can probably tell from the trend of this report that we are very much\u00a0 in favour of supporting children’s facilities at the hospital. Perhaps we are slightly biased by the amount of evidence we see of the hospital’s\u00a0 needs when we are evacuating children, but the ICRC report will establish where there is a genuine need for supporting children’s homes outside Sarajevo.<\/p>\n A further note: during the evacuation of children we encounter many\u00a0 cases of clear-cut need in their families (there tends to be some ratio of parent poverty to the acute health problems of the children. We are\u00a0 very much in favour of a fluid “poor fund” which we could administrate at an individual, personal level.<\/p>\n That is all for the present – please let us know if this is not sufficiently detailed. With all our love and best wishes – Marina and Ara<\/p>\n PROPOSED BOSNIA PROJECT (RESEARCH)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n AREAS IN WHICH KIDS CAN OFFER ASSISTANCE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The staff of KIDS have built up relationships and contacts in many areas.\u00a0 Some of these could help as follows should Children on the Edge undertake a humanitarian aid project in Bosnia.<\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS\/CAI<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Strong links are already established with Child Advocacy International (CAI), a UK Registered charity with extensive experience throughout Bosnia.\u00a0 Their advice may be invaluable in any chosen area of humanitarian work.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS Facilities<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 The following facilities are available:<\/p>\n (1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A small office with a local area telephone (can receive incoming international calls).\u00a0 Computing facilities with e-mail (international).\u00a0 The office may also be used for sleeping in!<\/p>\n (2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS have the use of a Landrover based in Sarajevo which may be useful until logistic support is established.<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KIDS\u2019 Staff<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 The staff of KIDS can help as follows:<\/p>\n (1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Armin Alagic<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 A Bosnian national who speaks English, has extensive knowledge of the Sarajevo area and has worked throughout Bosnia during medical evacuations.\u00a0 Armin has invaluable local contacts from the war period.\u00a0 He can speak English and can interpret.<\/p>\n (2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marina Bowder<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 An English national who is currently employed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).\u00a0 Marina has an honours degree from Trinity College, Cambridge and has 14 years experience of volunteer work with the elderly, terminally ill, drug addicts, homeless, refugees, the blind and children throughout Bosnia.\u00a0 She speaks fairly fluent Bosnian.<\/p>\n (3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Staff Sergeant Vic Ferguson<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 A British Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer with operational experience in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.\u00a0 Vic is computer literate, has 15 years experience in the Army and was the first IFOR soldier in Bosnia.\u00a0 He was one of an emergency 2-man team tasked to set up the Rapid Reaction Corps\u2019 Headquarters and organize the reception of the first wave of NATO troops into Sarajevo. Vic worked in Sarajevo from November 1995 to May 1996.\u00a0 He has many contacts as a result of his work in Bosnia and can offer assistance in the following areas:<\/p>\n (a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vic worked in the Coalition Press Information Centre in Sarajevo.\u00a0 The worlds\u2019 press receive briefings daily at 1100 A.M.\u00a0 It would be possible, if required, to use these facilities with a \u2018ready made\u2019 international press audience cost-free.<\/p>\n (b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A mine awareness package is available which is strongly recommended to anyone entering Bosnia.\u00a0 It would also be possible to organise a specialist military mines awareness lecture in Sarajevo.<\/p>\n (c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vic has some close contacts in the international press in Sarajevo which may be useful.<\/p>\n (d)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phil Ball, an excellent Navy Public Information photographer with extensive experience in Bosnia, returns to Bosnia in January 1997.\u00a0 He is willing to help wherever he can.<\/p>\n (e)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is possible to obtain unclassified military map coverage of any area of Bosnia with a \u2018mine threat assessment\u2019.<\/p>\n (f)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because Vic is a soldier himself he has been able to tap a vast reservoir of good will not only in the British Army but among NATO forces in general.\u00a0 After is efforts with Hurmija were publicised hundreds of soldiers and members of the public responded with offers of money, fund-raising events and physical help reaching from the United Kingdom and Europe as far as Cyprus, America and Japan.\u00a0 Because of KIDS\u2019 military links Vic has been able to utilize, (from individual good will), NATO aircraft, vehicles, manpower and other logistical support.<\/p>\n (g)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fund-raising connections in Europe and America.\u00a0 Donors include Lions\u2019 Clubs International and the World Memorial Fund.<\/p>\n (h)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An established network of other organisations and local contacts.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 While the above points are not exhaustive they outline some of the possibilities.<\/p>\n CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 1990<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n First multi party elections in the six republics of the former republic of Yugoslavia.\u00a0 Serbian Communist Party leader Slobodan Milosevic is elected Serbian President.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1991<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n June<\/strong>:\u00a0 Slovenia and Croatia declare independence.\u00a0 Yugoslav army attacks Slovenia.\u00a0 (Sixty killed in one week war).<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 Yugoslav army withdraws from Slovenia.\u00a0 Serb-Croat skirmishes going on since early 1991 escalate into war between Croats and rebel Serbs, backed by the Yugoslav army.<\/p>\n September<\/strong>:\u00a0 UN imposes arms embargo on all former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n December<\/strong>:\u00a0 EC, under pressure from Germany, says it will recognize Croatia and Slovenia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1992<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n January<\/strong>:\u00a0 UN mediator, Cyrus Vance negotiates a cease-fire for Croatia.<\/p>\n February<\/strong>:\u00a0 UN Security Council sends 14,000 peacekeeping troops to Croatia.\u00a0 BH declares independence.\u00a0 Bosnian Serbs proclaim a separate state, fighting spreads.<\/p>\n April<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnian Serb gunners begin the siege of Sarajevo.\u00a0 EC followed by the USA recognise Bosnia.\u00a0 Intense fighting in Bosnia.<\/p>\n May<\/strong>:\u00a0 Yugoslav army relinquishes command of its estimated 100,000 troops in Bosnia, effectively creating a Bosnian Serb army.\u00a0 UN imposes sanctions on a new smaller Yugoslavia made up of Serbia, and Montenegro for fomenting war in Bosnia and Croatia.<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 International airlift begins to Sarajevo.<\/p>\n September<\/strong>:\u00a0 UN Security Council drops Yugoslavia from the General Assembly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1993<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n January<\/strong>:\u00a0 International mediators Cyrus Vance and Lord Owen unveil plan to divide Bosnia into 10 provinces, mostly along ethnic lines.<\/p>\n February<\/strong>:\u00a0 Security Council sets up war crimes tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n March<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnian Croats and Muslims begin fighting over the 30% of Bosnia not seized by Bosnian Serbs.<\/p>\n April<\/strong>:\u00a0 NATO jets begin to enforce UN ban on aircraft flights over Bosnia.<\/p>\n April\/May<\/strong>:\u00a0 Security Council declares six \u201cSafe Areas\u201d for Bosnian Muslims.\u00a0 Sarajevo, Tuzla, Bihac, Srebrenica, Zepa and Gorazde.<\/p>\n May<\/strong>:\u00a0 In a referendum, Bosnian Serbs overwhelmingly reject Vance\/Owen plan in favour of independent Bosnian state.<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 Warring sides reach preliminary agreement in Geneva on Union of Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina with three states and three peoples.\u00a0 Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic walks out in August after Serbs violate cease-fire.<\/p>\n September<\/strong>:\u00a0 Geneva peace talks collapse<\/p>\n December<\/strong>:\u00a0 Early preliminary elections in Serbia, called by Milosevic, leave his socialists as the largest party.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1994<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n February<\/strong>:\u00a0 Mortar shells slam into downtown marketplace in Sarajevo killing more than 60 people and wounding about 200 others.\u00a0 NATO gives Bosnian Serbs 10 days to withdraw guns from Sarajevo region or face airstrikes.\u00a0 Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic agrees to move guns from around Sarajevo if soldiers from Russia, a historical Serb Ally, join the peacekeeping mission.\u00a0 US jets flying for NATO down four Bosnian Serb warplanes violating the \u201cno fly zone\u201d.<\/p>\n March<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnia\u2019s Muslim led government and Bosnian Croats sign US brokered accord ending year long war.<\/p>\n May<\/strong>:\u00a0 Five Nation Contact Group peace plan.<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 Serbs refuse Contact Group peace plan.<\/p>\n August<\/strong>:\u00a0 Milosevic cuts ties to Bosnian Serbs for rejecting the plan.<\/p>\n October<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnian government forces score their biggest victory of the war around Bihac, a fierce Serb counter-attack follows.<\/p>\n November<\/strong>:\u00a0 NATO launches its largest action ever, about 50 jets and support planes attacking Serb airfield but failed to take out Serb jets attacking Bihac.\u00a0 Serbs detain 55 Canadian peacekeepers against further airstrikes.\u00a0 Eventually more than 400 peacekeepers held.\u00a0 NATO attempts airstrike on Serb positions in Bihac but the mission was called off when the UN fails to pinpoint targets.<\/p>\n December<\/strong>:\u00a0 Former US president, Jimmy Carter, ends mediation mission with the announcement of a Bosnian Cease-fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1995<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n January<\/strong>:\u00a0 Four month nation wide truce takes effect.\u00a0 Bihac is never quiet.<\/p>\n April<\/strong>:\u00a0 (8th) US aid plane hit by gunfire.\u00a0 All UN aid flights to Sarajevo cancelled.<\/p>\n May<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnian cease-fire expires.\u00a0 Croatia launches blitz to recapture a chink of land from rebel Serbs.\u00a0 Serbs retaliate by rocketing Zagreb, six killed, nearly 200 wounded.\u00a0 UN orders Serbs to return heavy weapons to UN control and remove all heavy weapons to UN control and remove all heavy weapons around Sarajevo.\u00a0 Serbs ignore UN order.\u00a0 NATO attacks Serb ammunition depot.\u00a0 Serbs respond by shelling \u201csafe areas\u201d including Tuzla, where 71 people are killed and over 150 injured.\u00a0 NATO war planes attack more ammunition depots.\u00a0 Serbs take UN peacekeepers hostage.\u00a0 Eventually more than 370 are seized.\u00a0 Bosnian Foreign minister is shot down by rebel Serbs near Bihac.\u00a0 France, Britain and the United States sends thousands more troops toward Bosnia.<\/p>\n June<\/strong>:\u00a0 (2nd) Serbs shoot down US F 16 over northern Bosnia.\u00a0 121 UN hostages were released.\u00a0 NATO defence chiefs meeting in Paris, agree on Rapid Reaction Force to bolster UN peacekeepers in Bosnia.\u00a0 US envoy Robert Frasure fails to agree after weeks of talks with Milosevic on Serbia recognising Bosnia.\u00a0 Serbs release another 111 more hostages.\u00a0 US marines rescue downed F 16 pilot NATO approves new Rapid Reaction Force, but say peacekeepers will leave Bosnia by Autumn if rebel Serbs don\u2019t accept new force.\u00a0 Complex evacuation plan approved.\u00a0 All but the last 26 UN hostages released.\u00a0 Government launches offensive to break the siege of Sarajevo.\u00a0 Serbs step up shelling of Sarajevo and other safe areas.<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 Serbs overrun Srebrenica \u201csafe area\u201d after last minute airstrikes fail to stop the advance.\u00a0 Serbs deport Muslims from enclave.\u00a0 Serbs attack Zepa.<\/p>\n August (30th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 NATO\u00a0 air strikes hit Serb artillery positions.<\/p>\n October (12th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Cease-fire throughout Bosnia.<\/p>\n November (21st)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Dayton Peace Agreement initialled, war ends in Bosnia.\u00a0 Minor skirmishing continues throughout Bosnia.\u00a0 The NATO peace implementation force ordered into Bosnia, winter deployment takes place (60,000 troops).<\/p>\n December (8th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 London conference on reconstruction in Bosnia.<\/p>\n (14th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Peace Agreement signed in Paris.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1996<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n April (18th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 General demobilization of troops from the warring factions.<\/p>\n June (30th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Elections in Mostar.<\/p>\n September (14th)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Nationwide general elections:<\/p>\n UN Security Council sends 14,000 peacekeeping troops to Croatia.\u00a0 BH declares independence.\u00a0 Bosnian Serbs proclaim a separate state, fighting spreads.<\/p>\n April<\/strong>:\u00a0 Bosnian Serb gunners begin the siege of Sarajevo.\u00a0 EC followed by the USA recognise Bosnia.\u00a0 Intense fighting in Bosnia.<\/p>\n May<\/strong>:\u00a0 Yugoslav army relinquishes command of its estimated 100,000 troops in Bosnia, effectively creating a Bosnian Serb army.\u00a0 UN imposes sanctions on a new smaller Yugoslavia made up of Serbia, and Montenegro for fomenting war in Bosnia and Croatia.<\/p>\n July<\/strong>:\u00a0 International airlift begins to Sarajevo.<\/p>\n September<\/strong>:\u00a0 UN Security Council drops Yugoslavia from the General Assembly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bshop\/Bosnia\/Brief.1\/96 24th September 1996 Rachel Bentley Project Director Children on the Edge BRIEF FOR MEETING ON 25 SEPTEMBER 1996 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As a result of our telephone conversation on 13 September 1996 Kids in Desperate Situations (KIDS) have prepared this brief for our meeting on 25 September 1996. I hope you will find it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sarajevo"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=799"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":962,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/799\/revisions\/962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vicferguson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\n
\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
REPORT FROM KIDS SARAJEVO OFFICE – 21 SEPTEMBER 1996<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n