The City is No More

House in Vukovar after Occupation

15 November 1991

To the disgrace of the whole of Croatia, the borders of the free city of Vukovar are shrinking, reports Siniše Glavašević

While the civilian population is losing its sense of time, because they cannot discern day from night in the shelters, the Croatian line of defence is doing its utmost to prevent the enemy from advancing.

Still, there are over one thousand dead and a large number of people whose whereabouts remain unknown, all of which will mar the reputation of the Croatia that stood by for 85 days without taking concrete and effective measures to aid the greatest symbol of its defence and pride.

At this moment, street fights are going on at the Borovo Naselje in Slavonska Street, at Sajmiste in Masarykova Street and Preradoviceva Street, whilst the hinterland of Borovo Naselje, near the silos is being hit by heavy artillery fire from a distance.

If twelve wounded is a large number for the rest of Croatia, for Vukovar it might even be considered acceptable in view of the general state of defence here.

The intensity of the destructive force of projectiles that are raining down on the city has intensified, so that over seventy have fallen on the city within the last hour.

After the statement given by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr Franjo Tudjman, there is still hope that help will arrive, but also fear that it may come too late, as the ruins of the hospital building are insufficient for coping with the demands of the battlefield.

There have been an increased number of telephone calls to the political heads of state, warning them repeatedly about what might happen and what is already happening to the wounded.  Infection has already taken its toll, and the need for sanitary supplies is growing.

At the same time, the enemy is using all forbidden means in a desire to take the city which no longer exists. They have been using incendiary bombs and chemical warfare for days, and the atrocities wreaked on prisoners, especially civilians, have been occurring over a longer period of time. This is why it is adamant that Croatia immediately take action on its easternmost barricade, so that Vukovar may see some light, even if only from the direction of Vinkovci.

For almost three months now, appeals and indignant anger have been simultaneously sent out from Vukovar; we have done our utmost so that Croatia and the world may gain a true picture of what is happening here, so that unnecessary bloodshed might be avoided, but there is still no practical solution on the horizon.

Perhaps the next hours will be better for the fifteen thousand surviving mothers, old people, the sick and infirm.