33rd anniversary: Sarajevo remembers the longest siege in modern warfare

During this period, approximately 12,000 people lost their lives, including over 1,500 children, while another 50,000 were wounded. Sarajevo International Airport became a crucial lifeline, with more than ten thousand flights carrying humanitarian aid, and UN forces, and evacuating wounded civilians for treatment.

The siege also saw the establishment of the Sarajevo airlift, second only to the Berlin airlift in duration. Over 10,000 cargo flights operated from the airport, but according to the UNHCR, these efforts were insufficient to meet the basic needs of Sarajevo's residents.

The city endured relentless shelling, with an average of 329 shells falling daily. On July 22, 1993, Sarajevo suffered the most intense bombardment recorded in modern warfare, as 3,777 shells rained down on the city in a single day. The destruction affected hospitals, cultural institutions, and religious sites, leaving lasting scars.

At the time, approximately 120 mortars and 250 tanks of the Yugoslav National Army were positioned in the hills surrounding Sarajevo, later falling under the control of the Army of Republika Srpska.

Today, Sarajevo continues to honour those who perished and reflect on its resilience in overcoming one of the darkest periods in European history.