Nachricht Nummer : 179 Übertragungszeit : 3 min 35 sec Nachricht von : WAM@ZAMIR-ZG.ZER.sub.org Betrifft : Zagreb Diary 30 June, 1993 Erstellungsdatum : 05.07.1993 15:11:00 S+2 Realname: Wam Kat Zagreb Diary 30 June, 1993 Dobar dan, I went this morning to the office of IRC and I just enter when Stephanie told me that their people had returned of Tuzla, just a few moments before. So when I met the guy in the corridor I asked him how he came back and he told me that the road is open, only a little sniper fire, but for the rest it was safe. So I asked him if he had seen Tibor and Astrid in Tuzla and he answered not only in Tuzla but the whole way down from there to Split and in the airline from Split to Zagreb as well. They just arrived with him at Zagreb airport and returned from there to the NeXus house. He also told me that he saw Joseph and Emma yesterday in Tuzla. "Coming back by...... " "Helicopter" was the answer of Ten Years After on Woodstock, Tibor and Astrid were lucky they weren't going out by helicopter but by a convoy. UNHCR only would evacuated people by helicopter if their was a real life endanger for them. That is when you are not local. Although we may go into areas which are dangerous, we as foreigners have a good change to get out alive as well. And that is I think a big difference, it makes the dangers of war a bit relative But still...... I went to IRC to talk with Stephanie about linking her and IRC to the network and over them that way a direct line with the office in New York. Of course I went first to their old office, which was rather small, but by now IRC has I don't know how many different projects running in Croatia and BiH. So I was already wondering how they did that from such a small place. The new office is in the same building as SDP of Croatia, on the second floor they have a giant office. In the corridor hangs a laser printer print out which says "On the 4th of July it is our rebellion day, so most of us will take a day of at Monday the 5th". It is a reaction on a mistake, which one of the Americans in the office made, calling the 22th of June Croatians rebellion day, they explain to me when I smile after reading it. For the rest I have to discuss with her the possibility to use them, IRC, to collect funds and gifts in the states. We have tried to find other charities to handle our gifts and which can offer tax reduces for sponsors, but up to now it still didn't came of the ground. Half way the talk Jeff comes in, in his hand he has got some examples from handmade crocheted placemats and some table clothes. It is the work of displaced women and refugees in Karlovac, Zagreb and Osijek. The idea is to produces this material in the refugee camps and then sell it some were abroad. IRC took the project up some months ago, but realise at the moment that they don't really have the time and funding for it. Since Suncokret has simular projects going on, the difference is that we not rally have started yet preparing for selling the projects outside the camps. But that we had also in mind, it give the people not only something to do but also the possibility to earn some money. After a year the most of the money people could have taken with them is more than used and living alone from humanitarian aid is not particular what most people had in mind. Sitting and talking there in the IRC office I notice their total different style of working if you compare it with f.e. UNHCR or most of the Croatian organisations. They are Americans are much more pragmatic organised. Not those long talks, but effectively doing something, deals are made much faster. This I tell Jasmina when I meet her for dinner, later that evening. She is going to Brac tomorrow and I wanted to have one last briefing with her. I pass her the money which I could lent for the refugee children magazine "Help" some weeks ago. And ask it if she can bring it to Siraz. I also tell her to say good bye the nicest twins I know. On Brac they are living with their mother in one of the refugee camps there, two boys from about 4 years old, who remind me a lot on my own children. From Brac they will travel to Hercegovina again as far as I know to visit Posusje. A lot has been changed down there since she visit it 2 weeks ago. The Muslim refugees have left and over 500 Croatian refugees have arrived. This influenced Suncokret's work there of course a lot. To prepare the volunteers well enough you have to visit the places regular to stay in contact with the "field". Also in a Grassroot organisation as Suncokret we need to split the work more and more. When I came home I of course immediately phone to NeXus in the hope the catch Astrid on the line, but the both went to bed are were sleeping heavily after their adventure in the last month. They nearly spend a month in Tuzla and I think that some thinks in their mind will have changed, at least I can't imagine that living under Those conditions leave no marks on your thoughts. Enfin I will see when I speak with her. Suddenly you hear more and more about the radio boat "Droit du parole", today a article on the last page of Slobodna Dalmacija, it seems that the Yugoslav republic have asked them to change their wave length, since it is broadcasting on a wave length which is already occupied by a longer existing radio program in Serbia. They more or less seem to have a little airwaves fight there. Bok I Mir from Zagreb, Wam P.S. the exchange rates are still raising, we passed the 1850 HDR for 1 DEM today. ------------------------------------------------------ Zagreb Diary can be found on a lot of different electronic networks, it is copyright free and can be ported to any network or other means of communication you like, but please drop my a line, you can reach by sending a message to wam@zamir-zg.comlink.de or wam@zamir-zg.comlink.apc.org. Zagreb Diary is dedicated to Tyche, Pjort and Rik, so that they found out what there father have been doing all that time in Zagreb. Financial support for Grassroot relief work in Croatia or BiH can be send to Kollektief Rampenplan (atn. Lylette, Postbox 780, 6130 AN Sittard, Netherlands, tel:. +31-46-524803 and fax: +31-46-516460 or to Zagrebacka Banka, Zagreb, accountnr.: 2440291594, to Kat, Pieter Jan Herman Fredrik, Brace Domany 6 6fl nr3, 41000 Zagreb. Please notify me if you send or have send any donations. ## CrossPoint v2.1 ##