A trip to the Balkans showed Paul Joseph where your money spent at Oxfam goes and how the effects of war live on. IAN LLOYD reports

By the age of 70, Paul Joseph thought he had seen it all. That was until he witnessed the devastating scars that war has left behind in Bosnia and Serbia.

Paul's fact-finding visit to the Balkans, as a volunteer for Oxfam's Communications and Exposure tour 2000-2001, showed that the consequences of war are far-reaching and long-lasting.

"The effects of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1992 are still very, very apparent and more so in Bosnia than in Serbia," said Paul, who manages Oxfam's Burnt Oak branch in The Broadway.

"They are still visible, there are holes in walls and roofs and buildings have been left derelict because they are too dangerous to live in and people are still trying to re-build their homes."

His trip from October 20 to November 4 is a timely reminder to Messrs Blair and Bush that the current War on Terrorism will not be done and dusted if and when Osama bin Laden is rooted out.

The plight of refugees trying to leave Afghanistan has been well documented with tens of thousands uprooting from their homes to escape the relentless United Nations-sanctioned bombardment. And the story was similar in Bosnia and Serbia until the regime of Slobodan Milosevic was ended in 1999.

In south-east Europe there are now 350,000 refugees and 180,000 internally displaced persons those who were bombed out of their homes.

In addition there are 450,000 'Roma' people gypsies who are the subject of persecution whatever regime is in power.

"The impact of the conflict in Yugoslavia has fragmented the entire society," explained Paul, of Vineyard Avenue in Mill Hill East.

"There are now seven states and in the next week or so there could be eight. What was originally a prosperous country is now fragmented. The average income in Serbia is £75 a month and in Bosnia it is £25.

"There are a lot of maimed and disabled people as a consequence of war and poverty. People are living in hovels and rat-infested shacks, the water is polluted and TB is rife."

The main purpose of Paul's mission was to establish how Oxfam's money was being used in the area.

"In Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, the charity has paid for a water purification project which means two million people now have safe drinking water.

"In Bosnia there is a lot of black marketeering the mafia has taken control and all the essentials are scarce.

"Medicines are supposed to be free but they can only be obtained at exorbitant prices because they are stolen from hospitals and sold on the black market," said Paul.

"Oxfam is assisting people who are completely destitute but are skilled. They have been given some loans to buy tools for things like car repairs, carpentry and hairdressing.

"Oxfam has bought people pigs and chickens to give them a start and this is being monitored because we want to know how they are breeding the pigs and how the eggs are sold in the local market."

And Paul urged people to continue supporting Oxfam's work. "I'm sure people wonder where their money goes.

"I have seen how the money is spent every pound is accounted for, is closely monitored and is helping people get a start in life."

November 28, 2001 20:17

IAN LLOYD