The Wars in the Balkans

This flag was put together as a memento for United Nations soldiers from the United Nations Protective Forces (UNPROFOR). The thirty-eight patches on the flag represent many of the countries that participated in the peace-keeping mission.

Starting in February 1992 and lasting until March 1995 (when it was replaced by IFOR), UNPROFOR enlisted the aid of forty-two nations and 39,000 soldiers. The troops were used to keep the Sarajevo Airport open and protected, to escort humanitarian aid around the country and to protect “safe areas” as designated by the UN. “Safe areas” eventually included Srebrenica, Bihac, Sarajevo, Gordazde, Zepa and Tuzla. According to the UN, UNPROFOR troops suffered 167 fatalities during the operation.

This flag hung at the Post Exchange at the Sarajevo Airport in 1995.