From: dubravko@delta.cs.fsu.edu (Dubravko Kakarigi)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Croatian-Bosnian Support Network
Date: 14 Oct 92 00:21:12 GMT
Reply-To: dubravko@delta.cs.fsu.edu (Dubravko Kakarigi)
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Originator: gwydion@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu

Dear friend:

   During my recent visit to Bosnia-Hercegovina I spent 10 days with the 
workers in the Logistics Center of the Bosnian Red Cross in Fojnica (about 25 
miles west of Sarajevo).  I worked with them, went into the field (Zenica, 
Visoko, Hrasnica, Sokolovic Kolonija; surveying the needs of the refugees, 
contacting regional Red Cross people), attending their meetings with 
international organizations' representatives and found out the following:

  The Logistics Center (LC) is supposed to play a role of a coordinator for 
central and southern Bosnia for the distribution of aid material (food, 
clothes, building material, and alike). The internationals bring the stuff 
and rely on the LC to give them detailed information about the situation 
(names and other demographics on refugees, detailed info on what kind of 
items is needed where, and alike).  The LC is most of the time not in the 
position to provide that information and what frequently happens is that 
the aid either goes only to the larger centers (like Sarajevo) where the 
internationals have their own personnel or they do the surveys themselves.  
In both cases, a great number of needy people are left out.

   The reason why the LC is not doing the job is beacuse they have no, and I
mean NO equipment to work with: vehicles, two way radios, computers, power
generators, etc.  Presently, the four workers are struggling with almost
nothing to cover as many people as possible, and the number of refugees is in
millions and growing.  With the winter coming we will see a major disaster
which can be diminished if we act now.

  So, since I came back I formed an organization (in the process of 
incorporation in the state of Folrida) to assist the LC of the 
Bosnian Red Cross.  The aim of the organization is to solicit from 
corporations the equipment needed. I have been giving presentations and 
got some help. Mostly, individuals give money. But what we need the most 
right now is contacts in large corporations. And that's where I need your
help.

   We would like to solicit from anyone who can give, but would like
primarily to approach the large ones: IBM, Apple, Zenith, Hewlett Packard
for the computer equipment; Motorola, Hitachi for the communications equipment;
I don't know whom for the power generators; Toyota, Nisan, ... for vehicles.
The best would be to have a cluster-like group which could coordinate this
effort.

   My people over there in Bosnia need help desperately, they are facing a
brutal enemy, and combined with the winter their chances for survival are
minimal unless we come to their rescue. And we are talking about hundreds of
thousands of possible casualties.  Some of them are my family (I have several
cousins and an aunt in Sarajevo).

   What I am hoping that you could do is:
   - give me contacts in the industry,
   - let me know if you know of another similar organization,
   - let me have a monopoly on your brain for a few minutes, and use whatever
great ideas you come up with.

   We are presently working on a short, 10 minute video focusing on the Bosnian
refugees, the conditions of the roads, and the work of the LC.  This, together
with a brochure, will be sent to the potential corporate donors. 

  We are also trying to get the American Red Cross to sponsor our organization.
This all takes time which is one of the most precious commodities right now.
So, any pointers or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

---dubravko kakarigi

Croatian-Bosnian Support Network, P.O.Box 1742, Tallahassee, Florida 32302.