Today (24.032015) is the 16th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. It was indeed a horrible experience that shook up my whole country. Not many people remember or know about the devastating effect it had on this country.
The biggest issue I have with this event is the targets. I would understand attacking only military positions but that was not the case here.
By Vivian Martin (New York)
From the onset of NATO’s aggression from March 24 to June 11, 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) flew over 35,000 combat missions over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Over 1,000 warplanes (among others F-15, F-16, F-117) and 206 helicopters were used in the air strikes. More than 20,000 laser or satellite-guided weapons were launched and over 79,000 tons of explosives were dropped, including 152 containers with 35,450 cluster bombs, thermo-visual and graphite bombs, which are prohibited under international conventions.1
The NATO forces justified the bombing of civilian targets as either “mistakes” or essential to the destruction of Milosevic and the Yugoslav Army. However, these attacks were not made solely against military targets but against the Yugoslav population as a whole.
As a direct result of the bombings, thousands of civilians were killed and more than 6,000 sustained serious injuries. A large number of the injured will remain crippled for life. NATO bombings have burned amputated, wounded and disabled many civilians of all-ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Children make made up 30% of all casualties as well as 40% of the total number injured. In addition, approximately 300,000 children have suffered severe psychological traumas and will require continuos medical surveillance and treatment. Children have been victims of the sprinkle cluster bombs, with delayed effects, and will continue to be victimized until all parks, play-fields and open areas have been made safe from the remaining unexploded bombs scattered throughout Yugoslavia.
It is horribly painful to experience such terror, some are even in shock of the Serbians trying to get into the NATO due to this event.
That’s why I resent war to the fullest. Death is always present…civilians, military forces, reporters… humans in all shapes and sizes. That’s why we study history, to not repeat the cruelty of war…but do we ever learn?
With this I want to remember those who have fallen during those attacks. Education and communication is the key to a brighter future, I will always believe that.
Stay Awake,
The Solkotovic
