CIRCLE OF SERB SISTERS HELPED PEOPLE DURING HARDEST DAYS OF EXODUS

PALE, MARCH 14 /SRNA/ – The President of the Circle of Serb Sisters "Holy Great Martyr Thekla" from Pale, Ljiljana Nešković, told SRNA that the role of this humanitarian association was particularly significant during the Patriotic War, especially in providing assistance to Sarajevo Serbs during the exodus.

She said that members of the Circle organized round-the-clock assistance for people leaving their homes during the days of the exodus of Sarajevo Serbs. Nešković reminded that since its establishment on April 4, 1992, the Circle of Serb Sisters has been dedicated to humanitarian and charitable work, volunteering in hospitals and providing assistance to the sick, immobile, and disabled persons, but that the period of the exodus of Sarajevo Serbs in 1996 was particularly difficult and demanding. "After a call from the Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia, since the late Metropolitan Nikolaj always supported us and we never did anything without the blessing of the Church, I organized a gathering of the sisters of the Circle, who were tasked with preparing hot drinks and food for people leaving Sarajevo in convoys," Nešković said. People were leaving the Serb municipalities of Hadžići, Ilidža, Vogošća, Ilijaš, the neighborhood of Grbavica, and parts of the municipalities of Stari Grad and Novi Grad that became part of the Federation of BiH, which led to the exodus of at least 120,000 Serbs from the area. Nešković reminded that from February 20, when they began helping, snow was constantly falling and temperatures remained below zero until March. She said it was a real winter, while people were moving in convoys with their children and belongings. "Since my child had gone to the army, I felt an obligation to help wherever I could and offer a hand of comfort," Nešković said. According to her, the sisters of the Circle were assisted in organizing the aid by the Republika Srpska Army, which provided them with large thermoses, while tea was prepared in large quantities in the kitchen of the "Famos" factory in Koran throughout the day and evening. She added that the sisters prepared sandwiches in the Forestry Club, where they had been given space for that purpose, noting that some worked in the kitchen while others went out to the field to help people in the convoys. "The convoy passed 24 hours a day, and a tent was set up in cooperation with the Red Cross of Republika Srpska at the Triangla intersection toward Jahorina and Pale, where a large number of people coming from the direction of Trebević passed," Nešković said. At that location they were accompanied around the clock by the legendary commander of the special unit of the Republika Srpska Army "White Wolves", Srđan Knežević, from whom they received a vehicle, as well as Dragan Janković and Boban Hršum. She stressed that numerous donations also arrived during that time, while many people, especially mothers with children, were accommodated in facilities in Pale. "I remember that the Secondary School Center in Pale was once full of mothers with children, and it was similar in the elementary school. Željko Filipović, who was with the International Red Cross, helped us there and brought buckets of Eurokrem so the children would have snacks. We also organized the preparation of three meals a day in the 'Famos' kitchen," Nešković remembers She added that the sisters of the Circle tried as much as possible to ease the difficult days for people forced to leave their homes and shared their suffering. Nešković pointed out that in that tragedy some people moved farther away while others stayed in Pale, adding that it is still difficult to remember those days because many had to leave their houses, property, and everything they had built over the years in order to save their lives. She noted that despite the difficult circumstances, people rejoiced at the creation of Republika Srpska and the prospect of a more peaceful future. "We must not forget any victim whose sacrifice was built into the creation of Republika Srpska. That is why it is important to remember and preserve the truth about all these events," Nešković said. She thanked everyone who had supported the work of the Circle of Serb Sisters over the years, including the municipality of Pale, the City of Istočno Sarajevo, and local businessmen. The Circle of Serb Sisters "Holy Great Martyr Thekla" has received numerous recognitions, including the Cross of Mercy and the Charter of the Serbian Orthodox Church.