The Embassy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina issued a statement today on its Twitter profile on the occasion of the anniversary of the beginning of the siege of Sarajevo.
Thirty-one years ago today, the vicious and brutal siege of Sarajevo began, during which the brave residents of this city endured constant shelling and sniping for 1,425 days.
We honor and pay tribute to the thousands of civilians – men, women, and children of all ages – who were killed by the Army of Republika Srpska forces under the command of convicted war criminals such as Stanislav Galić and Dragomir Milošević in the longest siege in modern history.
It is our collective obligation to remember this atrocity, honor all victims, seek justice, and work to promote reconciliation.
A commitment to truth, as well as empathy for those who suffered and died, are necessary for the forgiveness and reconciliation that will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a brighter future for everyone, wrote the embassy on its official Twitter profile.
Thirty one years ago, the longest siege after World War II began, was the siege of Sarajevo. In the night from 4th to 5th April 1992, the barricades have appeared overnight at the international airport of Sarajevo, and soon in the suburb of Grbavica.
Peace rallies were held the very first day and thousands of people walked the streets of Sarajevo inviting government, Jugoslav National Army and all the others to stay in the “brotherhood and unity” and peace. The enemy responded by firing from the roof of the hotel Holiday Inn, and by killing Suada Dilberović and Olga Sučić on Vrbanja bridge.
Suada was a medical student from Dubrovnik, Olga mother of two children. On the bridge, which bears their name, is a memorial plaque that says “A drop of my blood gushed out, and Bosnia does not dry up.”
Since then, news about the number of dead and injured children whose dreams were broken forever, separated families and cultural and historical buildings that have been destroyed were present in the international news almost every day. Among the many recordings that have toured the world was the Markale massacre and the City Hall in flames.
The New York Times reported that Sarajevo started to look like a maze of barricades, checkpoints and traps for tanks.
According to estimates, the average of 329 shells were fired at Sarajevo every day. The record of 3,777 shells was filed on 22 July 1993. In the hills around Sarajevo was stationed 120 mortars and 250 tanks of the JNA who later ended up in the hands of the army of the Republika Srpska.
The siege Of Sarajevo lasted for 1,425 days and citizens were without food, water, electricity and other energy sources. The enemy was at the top of the hills around Sarajevo and did not hesitate to shoot at civilians, and especially children. Around 11 541 people were killed, of whom 1,600 children and more than 50,000 is were injured.
Although the war ended with the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement on 14th December 1995, according to the Army of BiH siege ended on 29th March 1996. The missile was fired on January 9, 1996 on Grbavica, an area under the control of the VRS, killing one woman and wounding 19 people. Those were the last victims of the siege.
