04/03/1993 | Voices from the Drina

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🧵 It’s just after midnight. We initially thought it was a Chetnik plane attacking by night, so we headed to the basement, but some minutes later we heard a commotion in the street, and we ran out to see what was happening.

Everybody was looking up, and there was an amazing sight in the sky. At first we saw the glint of hundreds of falling objects and then parachutes opened.

We were all watching the sky as if hypnotised; hundreds of mesmerised people all along the icy street. Somebody shouted that Clinton was sending food by air. All at once everybody was running to where the parachutes might land – up the hill, up another hill, down the street.

Mum says we should wait until the morning to search for the food parcels, as it could get rough tonight.

Food! Food is here! It dropped from the sky opposite our house. I found two big packs of food. I dragged them down the hill, through the snow. I’m very tired now but at least we have food!

The food airdrops have arrived! Food!

The first food parcels sent by the international community (almost a year since the Serb aggression against N and E Bosnia began) have actually fallen behind Serb lines, as they are advancing so quickly towards the town. (1/2)

We feel particularly bitter towards the international community, who for a year have refused to help us even though we’re on the verge of disappearing; and who, when they finally decide to make a move that carries no risk, are not even able to do it properly. (2/2)

It’s total chaos right now. The first food parcels have now been dropped into besieged Srebrenica. Everyone has run to the spot where they think the palettes are, not paying attention to whether they’ve all landed. (1/2)

Several people have even died in this way; smashed by the several-hundred kilo weight of the heavy palettes – which have landed, moreover, in the most inaccessible spots. (2/2)