Vukovar (5/26/08)

Today we visited a city on the border of Croatia and Bosnia called Vukovar. It suffered a large amount of destruction during the war. We were able to visit the hospital and speak with the director. She also ran the hospital at the time of the fighting. In May of 1991, there were about 45000 people living in Vukovar. Just three months later onlz 15000 remained. Many evacuated the city as refugees. The Serbs struck the hospital with shells every day during this time period. About 60 people arrived at the hospital each daz and were treated in the basement. There was no water and no food for days and even weeks at a time. Generators were used for electricity. The staff coped with psychological stress by working hard and keeping a constant hope that the shelling would stop. Doctors without borders offered their services, but the opposing troops would not allow them to bring any medical supplies into the city. In November the city fell, and about 1800 people were taken to Serbian concentration camps. Another 1800 citizens were killed about 200 of which were patients and hospital workers. There were many others who went missing during this time period.

Today the city is slowly being reconstructed with what financial resources are available. Croatians have returned and now about 30000 total people live in the city. People who were attacked are now living alongside their attackers. The locals that we spoke with report that there are no remaining tensions or conflicts these days. However, there are undoubtly psychological stressors hidden within the people of this town who have to deal with the constant reminders of the war each day.

~Lee Ann