Safe Area Goražde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, 1992-1995

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses graphic violence, death, religious discrimination, and substance use.

In 1994, Edin was called back to the front from teaching. On April 19, he was wounded in the head by a bullet. He woke up in the hospital, his face swollen and the doctor unsure how Edin’s eyesight would be impacted.

In February 1994, the UN threatened airstrikes against the Serbs as they attacked Sarajevo, so the Serbs turned their attention to Goražde. The US declared that they would not interfere to protect the town. Lt. General Sir Michael Rose, UN military commander, worried that any airstrikes would jeopardize the UN’s role as peacekeepers, publicly stating that the situation in Goražde was not as bad as it truly was. On April 9, the Serbs overtook the Gradina mountaintop. This gave them a clear window to fire onto Goražde.

The attack intensified, and the US decided to perform airstrikes if the Serbs did not stop. On April 10 and 11, NATO dropped bombs on the Serbian forces around Goražde. In retaliation, Serb commander General Ratko Mladić blocked routes to Sarajevo and took UN personnel hostage. His troops advanced on Goražde and fired on the town center.