BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA: U.N. Problems Not Eased By NATO Blitz

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic Reprint | | Print |

Vesna Peric Zimonjic

BELGRADE, Nov 22 1994 (IPS) - United Nations forces tasked with the delivery of humanitarian aid in Bosnia-Hercegovina appeared no better off for NATO’s dramatic airstrikes on the Croatian Serb air base of Udbina — in fact, they appeared worse off.

An estimated 190,000 people, including about 50,000-60,000 refugees and 1,300 undersupplied Bangladeshi U.N. peacekeepers, are holed up in the United Nations declared ‘safe area’ of Bihac.

But NATO’s air strike Monday, the biggest in its history, has not slowed Serb attacks. Croatian and Bosnian Serb rebels continued their advance on Bihac in north-west Bosnia-Hercegovina, Tuesday, sending hundreds of refugees fleeing the outskirts of the town.

Croatian and Bosnian Serbs, allied with Muslim forces opposed to the Muslim-led Bosnian government, have pushed back government forces deep into Bihac itself. Outside the safe area, Serb forces have blocked convoys of food and medical supplies to civilians and the peacekeepers trapped in Bihac for five months.

U.N. aid airlifts into the Bosnian Muslim capital of Sarajevo were suspended Monday and Tuesday following the air attack.

The Bihac enclave, which has received practically no aid since last May can only now be supplied by air. But airdrops, which have already proven unreliable in Bosnia-Hercegovina, are not an option for NATO, who fear well equipped Serb anti-aircraft units in Bihac.

Two British Sea Harrier jump-jets were narrowly missed by anti- aircraft missiles over Serb-held territory Tuesday.

NATO launched the biggest air strike in its 45-year history on Monday, targeting the runways at Udbina airfield, used by Croatian Serb fighter bombers that twice attacked Bihac last weekend.

Such air attacks are in danger of paralysing U.N. operations in former Yugoslavia, whose sole job remains the safe and effective delivery of aid to non-combatant civilians in the war zone.

“It’s as well to focus on airfields but there are people on the ground who have a right to food and medical supplies,” U.N. High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Peter Kessler told reporters in Zagreb.

Kessler said Serbs blocked 14,000 tonnes of aid from being shipped into Bihac and let through just 1,600 tonnes. They are not expected to be more cooperative after the air strike.