(1 Mar 1996) T/I: 10:57:49 FE 10:33:16
Since war broke out in Bosnia, stories with happy endings have
been rare. But with the Dayton peace accord now apparently firmly
in place and communication links between warring parties slowly
improving there has been a ray of hope for Bosnia's lost children.
Merima Kafezovic, an eight-year old Moslem girl was separated from her
mother who left her in Banja Luka's hospital to be treated for
pulmonary tuberculosis last July. On Tuesday, the ICRC
arranged a special trip to take her back from Bosnian Serb-held
territory across former frontline borders to her parents and two
sisters in Kladusa, on Moslem government territory.
On the same day, Zvezdana, a 14-year-old Croatian girl from Zagreb
who fled the battles in Western Slavonia last May, also said
good-bye to her friends at the Banja Luka's orphanage before
departing with ICRC's car to be reunited with her family in
Zagreb, Croatia.
SHOWS:
27/2 BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA
Merima, entering nurse's apartment
hugging and playing with the nurse's children and family dog
Merima looking at photographs of her family and explaining to the
Red Cross worker
Merima giving statement to camera, in Serbian, after being asked
what she remembers: "From Kladusa, my mother took me to Bihac
when I first felt pains. From there, when war started, mother
took me to Vojnic and when the pain came again, she brought me
here to Banja Luka."
cheerful Merima putting on sunglasses and jacket
Merima going to Banja Luka's hospital
entering hospital
shots of Merima with playmates at hospital ward and staff
Red Cross worker asking Merima in English: "Have you said good-bye
to everyone ?"
Merima hugging favorite nurse
Merima leaving hospital and waving good-bye to friends on balcony
14-year-old Zvezdana, giving statement in front of Banja Luka's
orphanage: "I have decided to go back to Zagreb, I have friends
here but I'm not happy and I'd like to go back to my mother,
father and sister."
Zvezdana hugging good-bye her friends from the orphanage
emotional scenes as the children part
Zvezdana getting into ICRC vehicle and leaving Banja Luka
waving good-bye from inside the Red Cross vehicle
3.34
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