I worry greatly that this spiral is growing fast, undermining further the common sense of ordinary people who thus far have refused to give in to dreadful political manipulation. World conscience has been shocked by reports of wide spread sexual abuse. I find it equally unacceptable that after months of international pressure, and despite the arduous efforts of the ICRC, some 2,500 registered persons continue to be held prisoner by the three parties. In reality the number of detainees may be much higher. My second point concerns humanitarian access to the victims.
Access remains our number one problem and concern.
I am proud and relieved that the provision of food, medicine and winterization material has prevented mass death and starvation during the past winter months. However, there can be no room for complacency. In early February, I had to suspend operations on the crucial Mostar road leading to Sarajevo and central Bosnia, after the killing of one of our drivers. On several occasions, I had to suspend the airlift to Sarajevo because of military threats, most recently on 6 February when a German relief plane was shot at. On February 17, I was forced to temporarily suspend relief to eastern Bosnia and Sarajevo when for several days we had not been allowed access.