Krusche e Vogel

On Wednesday I returned to the village of Krusche e Vogel.  I had been there is 2005 on my first convoy, but then we arrived late, after other drops, in the dark and with an unsuitable load - we didn't know that all the men and older boys of the village had been taken away on one day in the war of 1998.  We didn't know until the women told us in sign language that of course men's clothes and baby clothes were not needed there.

This time we were well prepared with, in addition to food, bedding and other basic aid, sewing machines, chairs, tables, handbags, walking sticks, knitting wool.  We were warmly received and I recognised some of the elderly women.  We were taken to the village office where photographs and records of the "missing" are displayed, as well as those of the remains of the 86 who have since been found and identified.  One woman had lost 14 members of her family.  We later visited the cemetery where the "found" have been buried - a sea of flowers. 

Here, Florida, our delightful high-school student interpreter, told me that most families were directly affected by the war and that one of her cousins is still missing.  In the adjacent village of Krusche e Madhe we were shown a co-operative where villagers can sell their local produce, including preserved peppers and wild honey.  We looked forward to trying our purchases when we got home!