27 minutes agoThis Kosovo village was prepared for war on Independence Declaration
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)His clothes, food, and other necessities had been packed almost weeks earlier. Each one had a load to carry. They were just waiting for independence to be declared, to head for the streets. Ten years ago, residents of the Metehi village of the Podujevo municipality, 20 minutes from the border with Serbia, were prepared to [...]
Ten years ago, residents of the Metehi village of the Podujevo municipality, 20 minutes from the border with Serbia, were prepared to leave Kosovo.
February 17th of 2008, they thought of it as the date when war would begin, rather than the day Kosovo was to be declared independent and sovereign state.
They didn't even know where they were going. But if they stayed there, they feared that they were too close to the enemy.
Once they had experienced it, they did not want to experience the war for a second time. But nothing was left to chance.
I've made the clothes almost like weather. Two weeks before the 17th, I've had clothes full of food for the house ready. We've only had to launch”, says A.A., resident of this village for Infocus.
Closeness with Kosovo- Serbia says it has increased its fears. They had long discussed how to save at least five children.
She and her family were quietly prepared for the great day when they would leave the village.
We're here very close to the border. Even if war had begun, the first of us have the risk of getting caught. I've done it all the way up to”.
The nearest road to salvation was to them the mountain over the house. But if they would go that way, they would only approach the enemy.
Straight ahead, or you don't know if it's going to go or what to do. Just so you know we can't stay here anymore. I was worried about the family, not something's happening to them, and if the war is done, they're gonna split it from me”
The same fear had been enjoyed by another resident from the same village.
That day she too expected war to begin.
After she had prepared the bags that she would carry with her if they were to leave, she had buried some of her clothes, along with the bride's bag.
In the first war, most of them had been burned, hoping that they would be saved.
I was going to have a nice case of clothes and we put them in the dirt. The other things I made ready to take care of myself”.
Someone had a bigger problem. E. She was nine months pregnant and did not know what she would do if the war began.
He was terrified only when he thought that the child could come to life at that time.
I'm getting pregnant in the ninth month. Early in the ninth month. I couldn't even imagine yours being born in war. I can't even think about it.
Even though her son has been about ten years old, he remembers him with mixed feelings of joy and fear that day.
The morning of February 17, 2008, had found almost awake all residents of this village, who were looking forward to what would happen during the next few hours.
Fortunately, nothing had happened to them, and their fear had turned into tears of joy.
I can't even describe it. I've been crying, but because of joy”, one of them shows.
I can never forget that day, along with the emotions I've had. Especially, when I knew that my child is now born in an independent country and that he's going to experience war of”, the E.E.E. her confession ends.
