Srebrenica Refugee Crisis Deepens as UN Officials Struggle to Account for Thousands

Strategic Insights -

Bosnian Serb forces have forced thousands of Muslim refugees from their homes in Srebrenica, a town in eastern Bosnia, and UN officials are struggling to account for nearly 20,000 people who are unaccounted for. The refugees, who have been living in a wretched camp outside the airport in northeastern Bosnia, are being held by Bosnian Serb officers, who claim they are being screened, but have provided no information regarding their whereabouts or numbers since the Serbian forces seized Srebrenica on Tuesday. The UN officials estimate that 45,000 people lived in the town of Srebrenica and surrounding villages at the time of the attack, but have only been able to account for about 25,000 of them.

Key Takeaways:

  • UN officials estimate that 20,000 Srebrenica refugees are unaccounted for, with most being men of draft age.
  • Bosnian Serb officers claim they are holding some male refugees for background checks, but have provided no information on their whereabouts or numbers.
  • The UN had prepared a list of 37 schools, warehouses, and other sites in and around Tuzla for indoor housing of 12,000 refugees, but the Muslim-dominated Bosnian Government refused to allow use of these sites.
  • The Government initially refused to help care for the refugees, but finally allowed the evacuation of over 10,000 refugees to more comfortable and sanitary places on Friday night and Saturday morning.
  • Relief workers believe that most of the remaining refugees have moved in with friends or relatives in the Tuzla area or are making their way to other parts of Bosnia.
  • A UN official described the Government's policy as "a well-calculated political maneuver" aimed at attracting international support and sympathy.
  • The UN had prepared aid convoys and rations for the refugees, but were blocked by the Government from distributing aid to the refugees.

Statistics:

  • 20,000 Srebrenica refugees unaccounted for (UN estimate)
  • 45,000 people lived in the town of Srebrenica and surrounding villages at the time of the attack (UN estimate)
  • 25,000 Srebrenica refugees accounted for (UN estimate)
  • 12,000 refugees that could have been housed indoors (prepared by UN)
  • Over 10,000 refugees evacuated to more comfortable and sanitary places on Friday night and Saturday morning
  • 5,700 refugees remaining at the airport, living in tents and receiving regular food and medical attention

Sources:

  • "United Nations spokesman in Tuzla" ( name not specified )
  • Yuri Shishayev, United Nations spokesman
  • Capt. Harald Kjarstada, Norwegian officer with the United Nations
  • Lars Weghagen, chief of the European Union monitoring mission in Tuzla
  • A United Nations official (speaking on the condition of anonymity)
  • A Muslim aid worker ( name not specified )
  • "Page 8" (newspaper source, no date specified)