May 3^rd, 1999

Enviromental catastrophe in Novi Sad

     Novi Sad, the capital city of Vojvodina, and the second greatest city in Yugoslavia (500.000 citizens), is now facing a large environmental and humanitarian catastrophe. The Oil Refinery (which was totally destroyed in the first few attacks) is situated just on the verge of the city center and is now hit for the twelfth time! There has been a fire in the refinery for five days in a row, and it can not be localized due to repeated bombing of the object. Thick black clouds of smoke are floating above the city. Several of the house projects have been evacuated. Citizens have been recommended not to leave their homes if not necessary, and to close all windows. Breathing is difficult in many parts of the town, and acid rains are common. Raindrops cause eye infections. The city looks real spooky in the night, as one part of the sky is full of stars, and the other is jet-black. There are many problems in the part of Novi Sad on the opposite side of the Danube. As all the bridges are destroyed, the ambulance cars have great difficulties to reach the casualties.

     The city has no water for two weeks and no electricity for two days. The chronic patients and prematurely born children in incubators are in the greatest risk. The deliveries are performed under the wax-candle light. There are also great problems with food deliveries. The building of Television Novi Sad was also bombed two days ago. It used to emit programs on five different languages of ethnic minorities. Luckily, the building was evacuated, so there are no casualties.

Dušan,
22 years, student