The reintegration of one of the biggest parts of Sarajevo, Grbavica, which was occupied by aggressors for four years, took place on yesterday’s day in 1996.
During the aggression on BiH, on the territory of Grbavica were committed some of the worst crimes during the siege of Sarajevo.
Date of reintegration of Grbavica, as well as Vrace and Kovacici, is important for all the citizens of Sarajevo, because these settlements were “returned” after 4 years of war.
After they returned to Grbavica, citizens found a catastrophic situation, one of the symbols of Sarajevo – Grbavica Stadium was completely destroyed, and the streets were in an unrecognizable state.
According to the testimony of citizens who were among the first ones to return on the 19th of March 1996, Grbavica, Kovacici, and Vrace were unrecognizable, they largely reminded on Hiroshima. The streets were covered in garbage, they could feel the smell of smoke on every step, and in many houses was burning fire and thick black smoke was coming out of the windows.
The feelings that day were mixed – the happiness of people who returned to their apartments after 1,425 days spent in a different part of the city but also sadness because of what they found after their return.
The day of reintegration of Grbavica, Kovacici, and Vrace, the 19th of March, is also the day of local communities Grbavica I, Grbavica II, Kovacici, Vrace and Gornji Kovacici.
(Source: Radiosarajevo.ba)
