UNHCR and ICRC in the former Yugoslavia: Bosnia-Herzegovina

T he emergency relief operation in the former Yugoslavia was one of the largest, most complex, and riskiest international relief initiatives ever undertaken. UNHCR’s programme was perhaps the most difficult of any mounted by the organization since it was established.While UNHCR had operations in all the republics of the former Yugoslavia during its violent dissolution, the organization faced its greatest challenges in BosniaHerzegovina. For the first time, UNHCR was operating in a context of open conflict where it worked as much with war-affected local populations as with displaced ones.While this was more familiar territory for the ICRC, the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina likewise presented the International Committee with one of its most complicated programmes ever.This case study will focus on the activities of both organizations during the Bosnian conflict from 1992-1995.