The Srebrenica genocide, one of Europe’s darkest chapters, occurred on July 11, 1995. The massacre claimed the lives of over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys, mostly civilians.
Survivor Mirza Basic recounts hiding with his brother in a forest before being separated from him. He credits Hasan Mehmedovic, who saved his life by helping him find food and shelter during their escape to Tuzla. Today, Basic runs a fast-food business in Zivinice, where he had relocated after the genocide.
Hasan Mehmedovic, 63, remembers being desperate to survive amidst the chaos. He spent days searching for food and shelter with fellow Bosniaks before being taken in by Dutchbat troops in Potocari. Mehmedovic’s three brothers and 27 relatives were killed during the Srebrenica massacre. He continues to seek justice for his family.
Advic, a 68-year-old woman, was separated from her husband during the genocide. Despite searching for years, she never found out what happened to him. Today, she lives outside Sarajevo, reflecting on the devastating consequences of war: “It is hard when you had everything, and then suddenly, you have nothing.”
The UN peacekeeping forces failed to protect the Bosniak men and boys, leading to widespread human rights abuses. Thirty years on, many victims’ bones are still being unearthed, and families continue to search for their relatives.
Despite convictions of war crimes and genocide, many perpetrators remain unprosecuted. The struggle for justice continues as survivors like Mehmedovic and Basic seek accountability for the atrocities committed during the Srebrenica genocide.
The Srebrenica massacre is considered one of Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting human rights and preventing future genocides.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/the-srebrenica-genocide-as-it-happened-30-years-ago