Living with Hope

In 1995 a family was exhausted from the final 7 mile walk to the barracks the United Nations set up as they traveled to Zenica: a safe haven 8 hours away. This family with many others were traveling during a struggle between the many Bosnia ethnic groups. The conflict had started in 1991  and raged on until 1995. It had started by political conflict as the elites aroused ethnic tensions to help them gain high economic status. The conflict had tied in economic realities, fundamental tensions, and the countries historical nature. This started a bloody, and merciless ethnic conflict. With war raging, it would be hard for one to be positive and be motivated to do keep moving (Farkas). With there homes taken from them, they no must go to a new home as their country tries to settle one of the many conflicts it has all the time. Yet this family pursued through a rigorous journey and still has much ahead of them until they are safe from harm.
To say how many were effected by the war is unknown but it is estimated that several thousands were killed as well as several hundred thousand were displaced. The bloodiest encounters of the war started in 1992 and continued to 1995 in mainly Bosnia and Herzegovina. By 1995, the majority of the Serb population had fled to Croatia (Dyrstad). With the many countries that are so torn apart by war, it is hard to think of how any one could live in such places. It would be hard for any of them to love life when so much of their lives are torn apart by bloodshed. It is no wonder why so many migrate to countries where life isn't ruled by warfare. Even if we don't know how we can help, we can start out by just learning and understanding. No one can really help unless they truly understand.

Salgado, Sebastio. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. New York: Aperture, 1995. 127. Print.
Farkas, Evelyn. “Fractured States and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Cases of Bosnia, Ethiopia and Iraq.” New York: Palgrave Mamillan. 2003
Dyrad, Karin. After Ethnic civil war. Hournal of Peace Research. 2012