Djamila
Bosnjakinja
Mostar is one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans and, by far, Bosnia and Herzegovina's most popular tourist destination. It is also the most divided city on earth, split roughly equally between Muslims on the east bank of the Neretva river, and Roman Catholics on the west.
The war between Mostar's Muslims and Roman Catholics was the most bitter battle of the entire war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More people died in Mostar, per capita, than in any other major city in the country, almost all of them Muslim. More people were expelled from Mostar, per capita, that in any other major city in the country, almost all of them Orthodox Christian. The violence continued much longer than in any other part of the country as well, with families being executed as recently as 1998 for daring to return to their pre-war homes in areas where their religious group was no longer present.
The war between Mostar's Muslims and Roman Catholics was the most bitter battle of the entire war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More people died in Mostar, per capita, than in any other major city in the country, almost all of them Muslim. More people were expelled from Mostar, per capita, that in any other major city in the country, almost all of them Orthodox Christian. The violence continued much longer than in any other part of the country as well, with families being executed as recently as 1998 for daring to return to their pre-war homes in areas where their religious group was no longer present.
1996
2005
2005
Now, a rare story of compassion and brotherhood has come out of Mostar.
In so-called "East Mostar", Sanel Hrnic, a Muslim, was all but killed earlier this year in an automobile accident. He remained in a coma as recently as two weeks ago. Now, though, he has pulled out of his coma but still needs neurosurgery and intense physiotherapy to regain all his basic abilities, such as the ability to speak and walk. Mostar's health care system simply cannot provide such care, and the Muslim family cannot afford to send him elsewhere.
In "West Mostar", shopkeeper Nada Zovko, a Roman Catholic, heard about the plight of Hrnic's family and rallied several Roman Catholic-owned businesses on her street to help by setting out donation cans on their front counters. This attracted the media's attention, and while being interviewed by BHT1, Nada Zovko asked all residents of Mostar to help.
She declared Nov. 21 to be "Danas radimo za Sanela", "Today we work for Sanel" Day. To everyone's surprise, it worked.
Every single business, think about that - every single business in a city of more than 100,000 people, donated their entire profits of Nov. 21 to the Save Sanel Fund. Sanel's family crossed "The Boulevard" (the front line between East and West Mostar) to cheers and applause from both sides of a divide that has remained virtually unbroken since the end of the war. More than $201,000 US was raised, more than enough to send Sanel Hrnic to Germany for the help he needs.
Asked by BHT1 how she felt about the results of her effort, Nada Zovko said:
"People seem to be amazed that we rose above all this and helped each other, but it's the only thing I could have done," Zovko said. "When no one is looking, when no United Nations diplomats are making us shake hands in front of a reconstructed cafe, we will make our own peace."
Bravo Nada Zovko!
In so-called "East Mostar", Sanel Hrnic, a Muslim, was all but killed earlier this year in an automobile accident. He remained in a coma as recently as two weeks ago. Now, though, he has pulled out of his coma but still needs neurosurgery and intense physiotherapy to regain all his basic abilities, such as the ability to speak and walk. Mostar's health care system simply cannot provide such care, and the Muslim family cannot afford to send him elsewhere.
In "West Mostar", shopkeeper Nada Zovko, a Roman Catholic, heard about the plight of Hrnic's family and rallied several Roman Catholic-owned businesses on her street to help by setting out donation cans on their front counters. This attracted the media's attention, and while being interviewed by BHT1, Nada Zovko asked all residents of Mostar to help.
She declared Nov. 21 to be "Danas radimo za Sanela", "Today we work for Sanel" Day. To everyone's surprise, it worked.
Every single business, think about that - every single business in a city of more than 100,000 people, donated their entire profits of Nov. 21 to the Save Sanel Fund. Sanel's family crossed "The Boulevard" (the front line between East and West Mostar) to cheers and applause from both sides of a divide that has remained virtually unbroken since the end of the war. More than $201,000 US was raised, more than enough to send Sanel Hrnic to Germany for the help he needs.
Asked by BHT1 how she felt about the results of her effort, Nada Zovko said:
"People seem to be amazed that we rose above all this and helped each other, but it's the only thing I could have done," Zovko said. "When no one is looking, when no United Nations diplomats are making us shake hands in front of a reconstructed cafe, we will make our own peace."
Bravo Nada Zovko!