Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country in southeastern Europe formed by a diverse mix of cultures and ethnicities. The nation is made up of two very different regions. Bosnia, a mountainous region with dense forests, makes up the northern part of the country. In the south, Herzegovina is made up of rocky hills and level farmland. There are three major ethnicities within Bosnia.  The largest of these is the Bosnian Muslims.  The Serbs are the second largest group and Croats are the third. Approximately one-third of the Bosnians live in cities while the rest abide in rural communities. Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia. It is known for its many mosques (dating back to the 1400s) as well as its production of carpets and silver.
 

Bosnia-Herzegovina

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The Conflict
There have always been conflicts in Bosnia due to ethnic differences. In March 1992, Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia despite protests by the Bosnian Serbs. The Serbs, with the help of the Yugoslavian army, declared war against the non-Serbs. They began a process called ethnic cleansing in which they tried to remove all non-Serbs from Bosnia-Herzegovina by either killing them or forcing them to relocate. Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats (backed by Croatia) fought the Serbs and gained control of one-fifth of the country. Fighting between the groups continued for years, with towns and homes destroyed and families torn apart. In 1995 Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian representatives met in Dayton, Ohio to create a new peace plan (the Dayton Peace Plan). The Muslim-Croat federation gained 51 percent of the country while the Bosnian Serbs got 49 percent. The plan put an end to the terrorism and violence that divided ethnic groups and severely damaged the economy. Sarajevo was a major war zone during the conflict. Today, major world organizations and governments are helping to rebuild the ancient city.
 

Red Cross
The Red Cross is an international organization, made up of over 175 national branches, that was founded to alleviate human suffering. The association originated in Switzerland in 1863. The symbol of the organization mirrors the red cross found on Switzerland’s flag.  In Muslim countries, the organization is called the Red Crescent and is represented by a red crescent. In Israel, the Red Star is represented by a red six-pointed star. The International Red Cross brings relief to those suffering in emergency and disaster situations as well as those in impoverished countries. Seven fundamental principles guide its work: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality.

Relief in Bosnia
The American Red Cross began a relief program in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995. A great deal of energy has gone to feeding the elderly in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Serbska Republika, with the distribution of over 20,000 tons of food for the feeding of over 135,000 people over the age of 65. The success of the American Red Cross in Bosnia prompted the development of the Red Cross of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2000.

Bosnia-Herzegovina