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Goražde's Unsung Siege: A Sister's Quest
13 Dec
Summary
- Goražde, a UN safe area, survived a brutal siege for nearly four years.
- Filmmaker Fiona Lloyd-Davies explores her sister's tragic connection.
- International failure tested the resolve of NATO and the UN.
The Bosnian war saw the harrowing four-year siege of Goražde, an eastern Bosnian Muslim enclave designated a UN Safe Area. It uniquely survived the conflict, showcasing extraordinary individual courage against overwhelming odds. However, its story also reflects a critical lack of international will and near betrayal, which almost led to its demise. The United Nations' inaction gravely impacted its credibility, especially after the Srebrenica genocide.
Journalist and filmmaker Fiona Lloyd-Davies presents this largely untold narrative through the eyes of those who lived through the siege and those who made life-altering decisions. Listeners hear from Goražde defenders turned prime minister, a restaurateur known as the 'black pirate,' and teenagers braving snipers for survival.
The story holds a deep personal significance for Lloyd-Davies, whose sister, Dr. Vanessa Lloyd-Davies, was on a convoy that failed to reach Goražde due to a mine incident and firefight. This event marked the beginning of Fiona's extensive work in Bosnia, though neither sister reached Goražde during the war. Driven to understand her sister's fate, Fiona's journey uncovered the dramatic events of the Battle of the Drina.
