Siege of Sarajevo: Thousands of shoes on the streets represent the victims of the war

2024-04-08 18:25:14, Kosova & Bota CNA

Siege of Sarajevo: Thousands of shoes on the streets represent the victims of

This week marks the 32nd anniversary of the siege of Sarajevo. The siege began on April 5, 1992 and ended after almost 4 years. During that time, Sarajevo's 350,000 residents were subjected to daily attacks by the Bosnian Serb army, cutting off residents' regular access to electricity, food, water, medicine, and preventing them from leaving the city. These days, around 11,500 pairs of shoes, representing the victims during the siege of Sarajevo, are on display in the Bosnian capital, on what is known as the "Street of Memory", which stretches for more than a kilometer.

Carefully placed, three pairs in a row, these shoes are a memory of the men, women and children who lost their lives during the siege of Sarajevo in the early 90s.

More than 11,500 shoes are on display in the center of the Bosnian capital as part of an installation called "Memory Street", in honor of its citizens who did not survive the longest military siege in modern history.

On the 32nd anniversary of the beginning of the siege, thousands of people took part in a commemorative walk last week.

The shoes were donated by local residents and will become part of a collection at the town's Memorial Centre.

Among those who donated a pair of shoes is former teacher Senada Salihovic.

"I spent the war in Sarajevo. I worked as a teacher at that time. Almost every day I learned that we had lost a child or other beloved relative. I appreciate every opportunity to remember and think about those who are no longer with us," she says.

The siege began on April 5, 1992 and ended after almost 4 years.

During that time, Sarajevo's 350,000 residents were subjected to daily attacks by the Bosnian Serb army, cutting off residents' regular access to electricity, food, water, medicine, and the ability to evacuate.

For some survivors, the display of these shoes was a return to the emotional state they experienced during the siege.

"It caused me very strong emotions. I remember everything as if it happened today. I am sorry for everything that happened to this city, to these (killed) people and to all of us," says Kemal Muninovic.

For the younger residents, the shoes symbolize the importance of honoring the past while looking to the future.

"I think that young people should be aware of what happened (in Sarajevo) because it happened in our country. But we also shouldn't let ourselves be burdened too much by the past," says high school student Faris Ajanovic.

His school friend, Tina Perovic, agrees with him.

"In this way we are preserving the memories and these shoes help us not to forget how many people were killed and that they are not just a number, that each one of them was a person," she says.

The shoes donated for the commemorative event will be preserved forever as part of the "Memory Trail" at the Sarajevo Memorial Center, which will be built on Mount Igman near Sarajevo./ VOA