The Siege of Sarajevo: An Ordeal of Survival
For nearly four years, the residents of Sarajevo endured a brutal siege. Bosnian journalist Aida Cerkez, who lived through this horrific period, describes the daily reality of life without electricity, gas, stable water supply, or heating. From the siege's beginning to its end, the power never returned, forcing citizens to find alternative ways to survive. This siege remains one of the longest and most devastating in modern European history.
Improvised Methods for Enduring the Siege
To stay warm, Sarajevans used makeshift stoves fashioned from metal and tin cans. During the first year, they cut down trees in parks and yards for fuel. In their battle against the cold, people burned furniture, books, shelves, and parquet flooring, striving to create a little comfort amid harsh winters. By the second winter, they began to value Russian classics, using thick books as fuel for cooking.
"By the third, you start on the parquet. And by the fourth winter, you simply stop caring," recalls Aida Cerkez.
She noted that after managing to survive, everything was perceived as a gift.
For information, residents relied on radios powered by car batteries. Newspapers were typed on typewriters and passed from house to house. Under these conditions, people learned to support one another, transforming into a community where, as Cerkez describes, "these people became your brothers and sisters."
Aida Cerkez spent the entire siege in Sarajevo and has drawn parallels to the current war in Ukraine. She expressed hope that if people want to win, they will prevail, stating:
"You are stronger than we were then, and the whole world is supporting you."
According to her, it will not end quickly, but people will not starve, as they always look out for one another.
The Siege of Sarajevo, which took place from 1992 to 1996, stands as one of the most tragic episodes in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, symbolizing the consequences of war and humanitarian catastrophe. Aida Cerkez's words serve as a reminder of human resilience under extreme duress and the critical importance of mutual support in times of crisis. Her parallels to the modern war in Ukraine underscore that the lessons of the past remain painfully relevant and can offer hope to those facing similar hardships today.