War is Hell

AN OVERVIEW OF DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN TARGETS ON THE TERRITORY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA AS A RESULT OF AGGRESSION BY NATO, FROM 24 MARCH TO 24 APRIL 1999.
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
From the onset of NATO aggression against our country up to 24 April 1999, the North Atlantic Alliance made over 10,000 criminal attacks against the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In air strikes were used:
806 warplanes (of which over 530 combat planes) and 206 helicopters stationed in 30 air-bases (situated in 5 states) and on 6 warships in the Adriatic sea. More than 2,500 cruise missiles were launched and over 7,000 tons of explosives were dropped.
About 1,000 civilians, including 13 children, were killed and more than 4,500 sustained serious injuries e.g.:
- in Kursumlija: 13 dead and 25 wounded; - in Pancevo: 2 dead and 4 wounded;c- in "Acak: one dead and 7 wounded; - in Kragujevac: over 120 workers were wounded during an attack on the car factory "Zastava"; - in Vranje: two dead and 23 wounded; - in Aleksinac: 12 dead and more than 40 wounded; - in Nagavac village, Orahovac municipality: 11 dead and 5 wounded; - in Pristina: 10 dead and 8 wounded; - Grdelicka gorge: 55 killed and 16 wounded; - attack on two refugee columns, with four cruise missiles, on the Djakovica-Prizren road: 75 killed and 100 wounded, of whom 26 critically; - in the village of Srbica: 10 killed, among whom 7 children; - Belgrade suburb of Batajnica: a three year old girl Milica Rakic was killed, and five civilians wounded. - in Nis: in the attack on housing flats one civilian was killed while 11 wounded; - in Pristina: in the attack on a Provisional Executive Council building in the suburb Grmija, one civilian was killed while 2 wounded; - in Djakovica: in the attack on a refugee settlement housing Serb refugees from the Republika Srpska Krajina (Croatia), 10 refugees were killed and 16 wounded; - in Belgrade: in the attack on the Radio Television of Serbia office building, 15 employees have been killed and 17 wounded;
Three million children are endangered in our country as a result of war and bombardment by NATO criminals. After these barbarian attacks hundreds of thousands citizens have been exposed to poisonous gasses which can have a lasting consequences on the health of the entire population and the environment.
After the demolition of the Petrovaradin bridge, Novi Sad and Petrovaradin were cut of water supply (600 000 citizens) since the main and city pipeline was constructed into the bridge. About one million citizens in our country are short of water supply due to the bombardment of NATO aggressors.
About 500,000 workers became jobless due to the total destruction of industrial facilities all around the country. Two million citizens have no means for living and cannot ensure the minimum for existence. Overall material damage is enormous. Preliminary estimates indicate that barbaric air strikes of the neo-fashist NATO alliance, since the beginning of the unprovoked aggression on the FR of Yugoslavia, on industrial, commercial and civil facilities and structures throughout our peace-loving country, have incurred damages in excess of 10 billion dollars. In the territory of the northern province of Vojvodine alone, damages have been estimated in excess of 3,5 billion dollars.
TRAFFIC
The road and railway networks, especially road and rail bridges, most of which were destroyed or damaged beyond repair, suffered extensive destruction. The targets of attacks were such communications as:
1. BRIDGES (18 DESTROYED AND 12 DAMAGED):
Among the destroyed are: The Varadin Bridge over the Danube (on 1 April 1999, The "Sloboda" (Freedom) Bridge over the Danube (on 4 April 1999), the "Zezeljov" Bridge in Novi Sad (on 5 April 1999), the bridge over the Ibar river, Biljanovac municipality (on 5 - 13 April 1999), the railway bridge on the river Lim, between Priboj and Prijepolje, near hydroelectric power station Bistrica (on 15 April 1999), the bridge over the Danube along the Beograd-Novi Sad road, near Beska, Indjija municipality (on 21 April 1999).
2. RAILWAYS - RAILWAY STATIONS (16):
Among the destroyed are: The Kraljevo - Kosovo Polje rail, near Ibarska Slatina, the Belgrade - Bar rail, due to the destruction of the railway track near the village of Strbce and destruction of the bridge on the river Lim, between Priboj and Prijepolje, Railway station in Kosovo Polje, the Belgrade - Thessaloniki rail, due to the destruction of the bridge in the Grdelica gorge.
3. ROADS AND TRANSPORTERS (6 MAJOR ROADS):
(1). Ibarska primary road, due to damages to the bridge on the Ibar river, Biljanovac municipality, and destruction of the road between Pozega and Cacak; (2). Belgrade-Zagreb highway, near Stari Banovci; (3). Traffic suspended on the Kosovska Mitrovica-Ribarici section of the Adriatic highway due to the destruction of the bridge over the Vrbacka river; (4). "Jedinstvo" bus station in Vranje sustained extensive damage; (5). "Kosmet Prevoz" transporter in Gnjilane (a hangar full of new buses); (6). Kraljevo-Raska primary road; (7). Bus station in Pristina; (8). Traffic has been suspended on the Krusevac-Pojate road due to the destruction of the bridge on the Zapadna Morava, in the village of Jasika; (9). Traffic has been suspended on the Nis-Pristina road, due to the fact that the bridge on the river Toplica, near the town of Kursumlija, has sustained heavy damage; (10). Traffic has been suspedned on the regional road Priboj - Prijepolje - Nova Varos, due to damages inflicted on the bridge "Raskrsnica" near Donja Bistrica; (11). Road maintenance company "Magistrala" in Pristina; (12). The Nis Central Bus Station; (13). The Pristina Bus Station;
4. AIRPORTS (7):
"Slatina" in Pristina; "Batajnica" and "Surcin" in Belgrade; Nis airport; "Ponikve" in Uzice; "Golubovac" in Podgorica, "Ladjevci" airport near Kraljevo; agricultural and sports airfield in Sombor.
ECONOMIC AND CIVILIAN TARGETS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
The air strikes have so far destroyed or damaged all over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia several thousand economic facilities and dwellings. In the Leskovac region alone, over 3,500 industrial facilities and dwellings were either destroyed or damaged.
The devastation of NATO forces was particularly manifest in Pristina, Novi Sad, Aleksinac, Djakovica, Prokuplje, Gracanica, Cuprija, etc. Housing blocks on the outskirts of Belgrade - Kijevo Knezevac, Batajnica, Jakovo, Borca, as well as the area around Pancevo, were under attack.
1. INDUSTRY AND TRADE:
The NATO aggressor's attacks targeted the factories and industrial facilities which directly cater for the needs of the population, among which are:
"Galenika" drug factory in Belgrade, Industrial complex "Dvadeset Prvi Maj" in Rakovica, Machine building plant "Industrija Motora Rakovica" in Rakovica, Factory "Jugostroj" in Rakovica, Factory "Frigostroj" in Rakovica, "Lola Utva" agricultural aircraft factory in Pancevo, "Zdravlje" pharmaceutical plant in Leskovac, "Sloboda" white goods factory in Cacak, "Din" tobacco industry in Nis, "Elektronska industrija" factory in Nis, "Jastrebac" machine industry in Nis, Facilities of the "Beograd" rail company in Nis, Construction material depot "Ogrev Invest" in Nis, General merchandise depot "Kopaonik" in Nis, Production line of the tobacco factory "Nis" in Nis, "Elektrotehna" warehouse in Nis, Food storage facility "Fidelinka" in Nis, Facilities of the machine industry in Nis, Office building of the company "So Produkt" in Nis, Facilities of the pharmaceutical company "Velafarm" in Nis, "Zastava" car factory in Kragujevac, "14 Oktobar" machine factory in Krusevac, Production line of the metal factory "Metalac" in Kursumlija, "Krusik" holding corporation in Valjevo, "Ciklonizacija" in Novi Sad, "Tehnogas" in Novi Sad, "Novograp" in Novi Sad, "Gumins" in Novi Sad, "Albus" in Novi Sad, "Petar Drapsin" in Novi Sad, "Motins" in Novi Sad, "Izolacija" in Novi Sad, "Novokabel" in Novi Sad, "Istra" fittings factory in Kula, The port of Bogojevo, "Div" cigarette factory in Vranje, "Nova Jugoslavija" printers in Vranje, Furniture factor "Simpo" in Vranje, Textile industry "Jumko" in Vranje, Wood-processing complex "27. November" in Raska, Tubes factory in Urosevac, "Milan Blagojevic" chemical plant in Lucani, Plastics factory in Pristina, Cotton yarn factory in Pristina, Shock-absorber factory in Pristina, Surface coal mine "Belacevac", "Binacka Morava" hydro construction company in Gnjilane, Cigarette factory in Gnjilane, Battery factory in Gnjilane, Over 250 commercial and crafts shops in Djakovica were destroyed, "Dijana" shoe factory in Sremska Mitrovica;
2. REFINERIES AND WAREHOUSES storing liquid raw materials and chemicals intended for the oil and chemical industry, were hit in Pancevo, Novi Sad, Sombor and elsewhere, causing large contamination of soil and the air:
Fuel storage in Lipovica, which caused a great fire in the Lipovica forest (on 26 March 1999), "Beopetrol" storage in Belgrade (on 4 April 1999), "Beopetrol" storage in Bogutovac (4-24 April 1999), Fuel storage of the boiler plant in Novi Beograd (on 4 April 1999), Chemical plant "Prva Iskra" in Baric - destruction of the production line (19 April 1999), Oil Refinery in Pancevo - totally demolished (4-16 April 1999), Petrochemical industry "DP HIP PETROHEMIJA" in Pancevo - totally demolished (14-15 April 1999), Fertilizer plant "DP HIP AZOTARA" in Pancevo - totally destroyed (14-15 April 1999), "Jugopetrol" installations in Smederevo (on 4-13 April 1999), Thermo electric power station/boiler plant in Novi Sad (on 5 April 1999), Oil Refinery in Novi Sad, storage of bitumen (5 and 6 April 1999), "Jugopetrol" storage in Sombor (on 7 April 1999), Fuel storage "Naftagas promet" which is located 10 km from Sombor (5 April 1999), Naftagas warehouse between Conoplje and Kljaicevo (Sombor), "Beopetrol" fuel storage in Pristina (on 7 April 1999), Jugopetrol warehouse in Pristina (on 12 April 1999), Jugopetrol petrol station in Pristina ( on 13 April 1999), Fuel depot in Gruua, near Kragujevac;
3. AGRICULTURE:
PIK "Kopaonik" in Kursumlija, PIK "Mladost" in Gnjilane, Agricultural Complex "Malizgan" in Dolac, Agricultural Complex "Djuro Strugar" in Kula, Agricultural and food-processing plant and a cow-breeding farm with 220 milk cows "Pester", in Sjenica, has been destroyed, In forest fires caused by NATO cruise missiles and bombs over 250 hectares of forests have been burned down, several thousand hectares of fertile land, many rivers, lakes and underground waters have been polluted due to the spillage of petrochemical substances, oil spills and slicks;
4. HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE CENTRES (21):
NATO aviation also targeted many hospitals and health-care institutions, which have been partially damaged or totally destroyed, including Neuropsychiatric Ward "Dr. Laza Lazarevic" and Central Pharmacy of the Emergency Centre in Belgrade, "Sveti Sava" hospital in Belgrade, Army Medical Academy in Belgrade, Gynaecological Hospital and Maternity Ward of the Clinical Centre in Belgrade.
5. SCHOOLS (MORE THAN 200 FACILITIES)
Over 2,000 schools, faculties and facilities for students and children were damaged or destroyed (over 25 faculties, 10 collages, 45 secondary and 90 elementary schools, 8 student dormitories, as well as a number of kindergartens), including:
6. TENS OF THOUSANDS PUBLIC AND HOUSING FACILITIES among which is the Radio Television of Serbia office building in Belgrade (23 April 1999)
Several thousand housing facilities damaged or destroyed, privately or State owned, across Yugoslavia - most striking examples being housing blocks in downtown Aleksinac and those near Post Office in Pristina.
7. INFRASTRUCTURE: Damages to power supply systems, water supply systems, hydroelectric power stations, power stations, telephone lines, electric power transmission lines and distribution networks and 23 TV transmitters.
CULTURAL-HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES
MEDIEVAL MONASTERIES AND RELIGIOUS SHRINES (18):
1. Monastery Gracanica from 14th century (24 March - 6 April 1999);
2. Monastery Rakovica from 17th century (29 March 1999);
3. Patriarchate of Pec (1 April 1999);
4. Church in Jelasnica near Surdulica (4 April 1999);
5. Monastery of the Church of St. Juraj (built in 1714) in Petrovaradin (1 April 1999);
6. Monastery of Holy Mother (12th century) at the estuary of the Kosanica in the Toplica - territory of municipality of Kursumlija (4 April 1999);
7. Monastery of St. Nicholas (12th century) in the territory of the municipality of Kursumlija (4 April 1999);
8. Monastery of St. Archangel Gabriel in Zemun (5 April 1999);
9. Roman Catholic Church St. Antonio in Djakovica (29 March 1999);
10. Orthodox cemetery in Gnjilane (30 March 1999);
11. Monuments destroyed in Bogutovac (8 April 1999);
12. "Kadinjaca" memorial complex (8 April 1999);
13. Vojlovica monastery near Pancevo (12 April 1999);
14. Hopovo monastery, iconostasis damaged (12 April 1999);
15. Orthodox Christian cemetery in Pristina (12 April 1999);
16. Monastery church St, Archangel Michael in Rakovica (16 April 1999);
17. Orthodox church St. Marco in Belgrade (24 April 1999);
18. Russian Orthodox church Holly Trinity in Belgrade (24 April 1999);
CULTURAL-HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS (9):
1. Severe damage to the roof structure of the Fortress of Petrovaradin (1 April 1999);
2. Heavy damage to "Tabacki bridge", four centuries old, in Djakovica (5 April 1999);
3. Substantial damage to the building in Stara Carsija (Old street) in Djakovica (5 April 1999);
4. Destroyed archives housed in one of the Government buildings in Belgrade (3 April 1999);
5. Memorial complex in Gucevo (Loznica);
6. Memorial complex "Sumarice" in Kragujevac;
7. Vojvodina Museum in Novi Sad;
8. Old Military Barracks in Kragujevac - under the protection of the state (16 April 1999);
9. Memorial complex Crveni Krst in Nis (21 April 1999);