Balkan Children : The innocent look of childhood

Civilian Casualties of NATO’s War on Yugoslavia
By Vivian Martin (New York)

As a direct result of the bombings, thousands of civilians were killed and more than 6,000 sustained serious injuries. Children make made up 30% of all casualties as well as 40% of the total number injured. In addition, approximately 300,000 children have suffered severe psychological traumas.Children have been victims of the sprinkle cluster bombs, with delayed effects, and will continue to be victimized until all parks, play-fields and open areas have been made safe from the remaining unexploded bombs scattered throughout Yugoslavia.

Surdulica: An attack on a peaceful rural town on April 27,1999, resulted in 20 civilian deaths, including 12 children between the ages of 5 and 12
Djakovica: On April 14, 1999, a convoy of Albanian refugees was bombed four times by NATO planes. The refugees were moving down the Prizren-Djakovica road. 75 people were killed and 100 were wounded. All of the victims were ethnic Albanians, mostly children, women and elderly people.
Pristina: 10 civilians were killed including 7 children during an attack with cluster bombs upon a peaceful rural village.
Doganavici: 5 Albanian children were killed and two wounded when they came upon an unexploded cluster bomb in a field.

POEM FROM A CHILD OF WAR
I΄m not asking for myself
What the fate is, will be
But I΄d like to ask you, sir,
Are you hurt by these tears,
Can you sleep?
Born on the same day,
Gone on the same day,
I΄m asking, sir:
Which God has that right
To forgive you?
Twelwe little stars
Fell from the sky tonight
On your palm, dear sir.
Twelwe little stars
Fell from the sky.
What are they guilty of, dear sir?
Born on the same day,
Gone on the same day,
Cut by your sword.
And I΄m asking, sir
Which God has that right to forgive you?
Twelve little stars
Have fallen from the sky.
On your palm,
Dear sir.

I AM NOT PESSIMIST AND OF COURSE HERE IS NOT A PLACE FOR WEEPY COMMENTS. I JUST CAME BACK FROM THOSE PLACES AND I SAW IN CHILDREN'S EYES THE INTENT GAZE TO THE FUTURE....
I BELIEVE THEY WORTH A CHANCE

By Alexander Katsis