500 innocent civilians killed

Vecernje Novosti, 22nd April, 1999

On yesterday's press conference in the Yugoslav Ministry for Foreign Afffairs journalists were delivered "List of destroyed civilian targets in the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the consequence of the barbarian and criminal NATO aggression from 24th March to 20th April, 1999", where it is stated that approximately 500 civilians were killed and more than 4,000 were heavily wounded in Yugoslavia during NATO air strikes.

It is stated in the information that in the same period "The North Atlantic Alliance made more than 7,000 criminal attacks against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in which 700 war plains took part, more than 2,000 cruising missiles were fired and more than 6,000 tons of esplosive were thrown."

Three million children are edangeoured by war consequences, while hundreds thousands of citizens are exposed to toxic gases which will result in permanent effects for the total population health and the environment. About 500 thousand workers lost their jobs due to compete destruction of industrial facilities and 2 million people can not support themselves.

500,000workers left without job

According to preliminary estimates, it is stated in the document, the damage caused on industrial, trade and civilian facilities amounts to app. 10 billion US$, out of which 3.5 billions relates to Vojvodina. The information says that 11 bridges were destroyed and 14 damaged that 12 railroads and stations were damaged, as well as seven mainroads and seven airports.

The document includes a list of hit plants. So far in Yugoslavia were destroyed or damaged several thousands of economic facilities and appartment houses, whereof over 3,500 are in Leskovac area. In Pancevo, Novi Sad, Sombor and other towns were hit refineries and stores of liquid raw material and chemicals intended for petrol and chemical industries, which lead to high pollution of land and air. It is added that several thousands of arable land, numerous rivers, lakes and groundwaters are endangered too.

16 hospitals and medical institutions as well as more than 190 school buildings and tens thousands of public institutions and residential blocks were hit in crimanal NATO aviation attacks.

In the end of the information there is a list of hit facilities of infrastructure, TV transmitter as well as cultural, historical and religious monuments.