ASSESSMENT OF THE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORT ON BOSNIA-HERCESOVNA

Created: 6/18/1992

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Assessment of the Humanitarian Relief Effort in Bosnia-Hercesovna

Summary

We have only limited information on the locations of populations in need in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Concerns about poor security are slowing the pace of humanitarian relief efforts, which were resumed this week after being halted in mid-May. Nevertheless, ICRC and UNHCR appear to be positioning themselves for an efficient relief effort once officials in these

Sketchy Details on the Locations of People in Need

We have little detailed information on specific locations andpopulations in need within Sarajevo and the rest ofpersons are in need in

Sarajevo.believe thatefugees

are elsewhere in uie

he Bosnianof Sarajevo--^

Thcy estimate that0 of these refugees are in Banja Luka. the regional center,0 are inown of0 people southwest of Banja Luka, where local residents are caring for them.

efugees are in the vicinity of Tuzla,00

in the town itself.

he remainder are spread throughout theoncentration of refugees exists in the vicinity of Gorazde and Foca. southeast of Sarajevo, although we have no reporting on its size. I

Status of Relief Efforts

In recent weeks, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) have been making preparations to resume humanitarianuring the first week of June, ICRCetailed agreement with officials from the three ethnic communities in Bosnia-Hercegovina; this detailed someoutes toestinations within the republic that, if kept secure, couid be used by ICRC and UNHCR (seeeanwhile, the two organizations positioned stocks of food, medical supplies, and clothing in Zagreb. Belgrade. Kotor, andNHCR, however, reported difficulty getting supplies to Belgrade due to the sanctions. The two organizations have also been working

* ICRC suspended iu humanitarian relief efforts ta Bosnia-Hercegovina ooay. following (he killing of one of its delegates, and UNHCR suspended iu assistance ooay. after judging that negotiated security guarantees were not holding up. |

2 According lo US Embassy reports, ICRC has moreamily parcels in Zagreb alone. The parcels contain oil. cheese, beans, corned beef, sugar, detergent, and *oap).

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with United Nations Protective Forces (UNPROFOR) and various nations to assist in organizing truck convoys and airlifts.

Following affirmationew cease-fire agreement effective as0 on IS June, UNHCR and ICRC began limited operations aimed at getting some food and medicalroad convoys--to Sarajevo, while the UNPROFOR attempted to arrange for the opening of Sarajevo airport. We are aware of three convoys that reached Sarajevo this week:

first, organized by French humanitarian groups, arrived from Belgrade

early in the week after being detained in eastern Croatia by Serb forces. It contained food, medical supplies, and clothing.

second, organized by the UN, arrived onune from Split. This

eight-vehicle convoy containedons of supplies, including food, enough baby food tonfants for one month, and enough medical supplies to assist0 people for three months.

he third, which arrived onune, also was organized by French groups.vehicle convoy was held up forours outside of Sarajevo because of fighting, according to press reports. It contained ISO tons of food and medical supplies.

No organization has attempted an airlift into Sarajevo. |

Neither ICRC nor UNHCR have established logistical centers in Sarajevo. Two UNHCR staff personnel were to arrive in Sarajevo onune to coordinate efforts there, m

we cannot verify their

fighting has severely damaged ICRC offices in

ICRC and the local chapter of the Red Cross are also attempting to reach other pans ofhe local Red Cross deliveredarlier this week. An ICRC convoy carryingons of relief goods reached Zenica and Kiseljak--west ofZagreb onune. ICRC personnel in Zagreb are also considering resumption of relief to Banja Luka, Bihac, and Trebinje, if the security situation permits. Elsewhere, we have limited press reports indicating that some refugees are living in small towns, where locals are providing food and shelter^

The critical factor affecting the pace and direction of the relief efforts currently appears to be concerns about security. An ICRC official noted that someease-fires have been violated, and indicated that relief efforts into Sarajevo will not begin until four consecutive days occurhot being

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The ICRC is also concerned lhai the initial phase of an airlift into Sarajevo couldmagnet effect" that would bring populations in need into the safety zone that UNPROFOR plans to hold. The potential of creating new population movements in the vicinity of Sarajevo also concerns UNHCR. Both organizations, therefore, favor using land routes that would enable them to deliver aid to locations as close as possible to where the needs appear to be the greatest. Both organizations are. neverthless. preparing to conduct airlifts into Sarajevo.

Assessing the Future of the Relief Effort

ICRC and UNHCR appear to be positioning themselves for an efficient effort, once officials in these organizations judge that security is acceptable. At the same time, we are unlikely tolear picture of the needs of the people in Bosnia-Hercegovina until relief workers arc able to travel safely in the war-torn republic and assess the current plight. In the meantime, serious problems with water, sanitation, and shortages of food apparently exist in Sarajevo, although some ofisplaced people elsewhere in the republic may be receiving minimal levels of assistance from local populations.

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