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Women of Srebrenica Find Themselves Starting Over
‘For me, it’s too late, but for my oldest, Belma, I wish she
could have education and be able to provide for herself.’
About 7,000 Muslim men disappeared when Serbs overran the U.N.-protected enclave in eastern Bosnia a year ago. Most of the women were evacuated and, as refugees, lived on the hope that somehow, somewhere, their men might still be alive.
But as war crimes investigators began unearthing mass graves this past week, the women braced for the painful truth, and an unavoidable question: what now? Coming from a tradition in which they are given little education and are provided for by men, many have no idea how to go on.
"For me, it’s too late," said Mejra Alic, a frail mother of three who looks much older than her 30 years. "But for my oldest, Belma, I wish she could have education and be able to provide for herself." Belma is 11. Like others, Alic and her children fled to Tuzla, a government-held city about 45 miles northwest of Srebrenica. They had depended on her husband, Behadel, an auto mechanic, who disappeared in the fall of Srebrenica. For the last year, they have lived on meager aid in a room provided by a host family whose patience is growing thin. Asked about her plans, Alic shrugged: "My life is over anyway."
Overwhelmed by the tragedy, few of the women have accepted that their prospects of returning to Srebrenica -- now being resettled by Serb refugees from elsewhere in Bosnia -- are virtually nil. Efforts to teach them marketable skills are rare. Most of them, true to tradition, are reluctant to seek support outside the family, and the war has broken up the extended-family networks that might have stepped in.
An international effort to help them is under way. On Thursday, several thousand women gathered at a Tuzla sports hall to meet a foreign delegation led by Queen Noor of Jordan, U.S. Ambassador to Austria Swanee Hunt and European Union Human Affairs Commissioner Emma Bonino.
"We are going to help these women start businesses, help them start over again," said Hunt, who helped collect several million dollars to get them started. Bonino delivered the most direct message. "You must never forget," she told them. "And you must look ahead into the future."
But only the children and very young women appeared able to break out of a deadening combination of tragedy-induced lethargy and tradition. "Oh my honey, what could I do with this fancy box?" said Zahrija Zafirovic, 30, when the delegation presented the women with personal computers. "I only know how to cook."
Mina Ramic, however, was undeterred. A lively young woman of 18, she became head of the family when her mother "could not shake off" what happened. Ramic now supports her mother and two younger sisters by working at the local textile factory, and studies at a trade school in her free time. She was only sent to elementary school by her parents. Her sister Selma is the first girl in the family to attend high school.
"Had we still been living at home, Selma would probably not go to school, and I would probably be looking for a husband," Ramic said. "But everything has changed. We have to take care of ourselves now."
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"The women... are not well organized, they are not well educated, and they do not have a clear, long-term objective," said Randolph Ryan, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Tuzla. "The question is: do they focus only on trying to go home, or do they decide to start rebuilding their lives?"
Berserkistan, July 13 · Muslim Commander Vows to Regain Srebrenica
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Berserkistan, July 11 · West Still Shamed a Year after Srebrenica
Berserkistan, July 11 · Dutch Bare Scars over Srebrenica
Berserkistan, July 11 · World Court Reaffirms Genocide Case Against Rump Yugoslavia
Berserkistan, July 3 · Mladic Promised Safety to Srebrenica Muslims
Berserkistan, May 29 · Documentary Claims Serbia Provided Srebrenica Arms
IN-DEPTH FEATURES
Berserkistan, Refugee: Wandering Bosnia Without a Home By Chester King Vega
Berserkistan, Massacre Hill Jim Bartlett in Bosnia's Killing Fields
Berserkistan, Ghosts in the Woods Team Berserkistan Investigates a Srebrenica Massacre Site
SREBRENICA
Serbs Massacre Muslims in "Safe Area" of Srebrenica
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia United Nations
Coalition for International Justice
Reports concerning human rights abuses in Bosnia Intac Access
Major War Criminals/Suspects CalTech's Bosnia Site
Reports on War Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia CalTech's Bosnia Site
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