Today, a wreath and flowers were laid on the “Life” Memorial in Banja Luka to mark the 32nd anniversary of the death of 12 babies in the Clinical Center in Banja Luka due to lack of oxygen.
Wreaths were laid by the mothers of the deceased babies, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, President of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska Nenad Stevandić, representative of the President of Republika Srpska Marko Romić, Minister of Labor and Veterans and Disability Protection Danijel Egić on behalf of the RS Government.
Wreaths and flowers were also laid by the delegations of the Consulate General of Serbia in Banja Luka, the Republican Organization of Captured and Killed Fighters and Missing Civilians, the Third Infantry Regiment, the city of Banja Luka and numerous others.
Previously, as part of the commemoration of 32 years since the death of 12 babies, a memorial service was held and flowers were laid at the “12 Babies” Monument at the Banja Luka New Cemetery at the then Clinical Center.
The decision of the UN Security Council in May and June 1992 prohibited international flights, even those with oxygen bottles from Belgrade to Banja Luka, as a result of which 12 newborn babies who were in incubators died.
May 22nd is taken as the date of commemoration of this event, because on that day in 1992, due to lack of oxygen, the first of 12 babies died, and the others died by June 19th of that year.
Two babies survived, but with severe consequences. Thirteenth baby Slađana Kobaš lost her battle for life at the age of 14, and fourteenth baby Marko Medaković’s lack of oxygen left consequences for his whole life, RTRS writes.