Situation

In August 1992, aggression by Serbia led to genocide among Croats and Bosnians. Across the Balkans, and especially in Bosnia, people were ethnically cleansed (evicted from their homes). Schools and hospitals became makeshift detention centres where men were starved, beaten, tortured and murdered, while over 250,000 women were systematically raped.

In that dreadful period, 200,000 civilians were murdered, a further 20,000 were missing feared dead. Over 2 Million people were displaced as refugees. Those refugees that escaped to safer camps were malnourished, disoriented, suffered trauma and severe injuries.

Response

The HF team mobilised supplies and volunteers as well as medical specialists across Europe. The HF team co-ordinated the delivery of aid to refugees in camps across Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. Aid was provided to Serbs, Croats, Bosnians and Albanians with the principles of Humanity First. The teams worked in treacherous conditions. Often routes through Mostar were either dangerous due to snipers, or hard to pass due to snow.

The team also worked with the Red Cross and the Bosnian Embassies across Europe to build a database of dispersed refugees with the intention of reuniting families. While delivering aid across camps, the teams worked with other agencies to help put families back in touch with each other.

Outcome

Victims helped	> 10,000
Aid delivered	> 300 tonnes of food, clothing and medical supplies.
Mandays of effort	> 24,000
Project Duration	48 months

The HF effort ensured that displaced victims were able to get timely medical treatment and basic supplies including clothing, toiletries, shoes and other essentials which overwhelmed local authorities struggled to provide. Since the conflict, 10 medical camps have been running in Macedonia where over 1,000 patients, mainly women and children, have been treated.

Also in Bosnia, an IT Training Centre has been running.

Back (Disaster Relief)