Driton
The interviewer: Shall we begin with the story from the moment the NATO bombings started?
Driton: Yes, let’s start from when the NATO bombings started. On March 2nd, ’98 – ’99. It was around 8 o’clock or 8:15 in 1999 when the news regarding the bombing was delivered on the Radio Television of Albania. We were all confused in our family and couldn’t believe it. After a few minutes, the power went off. When the power went off we went out on the balcony but we didn’t see a thing. So, we went back inside and believed it only got postponed – we knew it wasn’t fake news. Later on, we heard some explosion sounds and went out on the balcony. We looked for the airplanes, but we didn’t see any since they threw rockets instead. Me, my grandfather, and my two sisters were all out on the balcony. My grandmother was handicapped and was left in the kitchen. She was so stressed and thought we ran away without her. She couldn’t walk so she crawled in order to see us on the balcony. She felt relieved when she got to see us and got back inside while telling us that she thought we had left her behind. That’s what she said. I told her that I wouldn’t run without her, so if that happened we would leave together. Then, the bombing started, and we hid in our houses. My grandfather, on the other hand, tried to stop people in the neighborhood from running away – he would tell people they should stay in the country since that’s why our soldiers were there fighting for; if we wouldn’t stay to support them it would all be in vain. He succeeded twice or three times in that but then on the fourth time, people had to leave. So, on April 5th we too left the house.
The interviewer: Did the whole neighborhood leave or only your family?
Driton: We left altogether with the neighborhood. I don’t remember that part quite clearly. I don’t know if we were all organized or not. I think someone out there claimed that they were leaving so we all planned to leave on April 5th. My grandmother was in a wheelchair. Me, my two sisters, my grandfather, and my grandmother in her wheelchair headed to the train station. Along the way, we encountered many refugees running out of the apartments…We were not maltreated when we arrived at the train station. We got on the train and went to Kaçanik. When we arrived in Kaçanik it was disputable whether they would let us go or not, but then they did let us go. There were some policemen on the train but they did not maltreat us anyhow. When we got off the train the policemen told us to be careful and walk only through the railway since there were mines on the sides. One of my neighbors and my grandfather helped me get my grandmother off the train and walk through the railway. After a while, the wheels of the wheelchair were damaged but that’s how we had to manage and push her to Bllaca. It was a real terror in Bllaca. But, then we got to the neutral zone where it was believed that the Serbians would not shoot us any longer. When we arrived at that other part, in Macedonia, people were in a miserable state of being. I would see them running like crazy for a loaf of bread. I didn’t stay there for too long – from the morning until 9 or 10 p.m. My grandmother was in a wheelchair so we were prioritized. A French team of doctors and some Albanians helped us get through – they got my grandmother on a tractor. Macedonians were against letting my grandmother cross the border but some Albanians from Macedonia insisted. So, I took advantage and went were her and got on a bus. They took us to Stenkovac at around 10 or 11 in the evening. Once we arrived the English KFOR picked us up with their vehicles, and jeeps, and took us to the camp. Then, they gave us a tent and we settled there.
The interviewer: How were the conditions in the tent?
Driton: Just like in a tent, you know.
The interviewer: Was it cold?
Driton: It was cold as it was still April. They gave us some blankets, but they were made out of poor material so they didn’t keep us warm. It was a big tent without heating – a true misery. You weren’t able to sleep because it was too cold, however, you felt safe there. They brought us the tent and the blankets…. but then the weather started getting warmer so we felt better. They provided us with sufficient food, milk, bread, and everything needed. We had everything – water and all the rest.
The interviewer: How about the showers?
Driton: I don’t about that. I know there were some WCs but as for the showers I didn’t get to stay there for too long, I only stayed there for 10 days. After 10 days, they were setting up the process of the chances to leave abroad as a refugee. You had to go and sign somewhere. I went there twice but I wasn’t lucky enough. Later on, my grandmother got sick so I had to take her to the Israelis hospital and they gave her a document that she was supposed to be treated. I handed that letter to the German staff. As soon as they saw the letter they gave us the documentation needed to move to Germany. They informed us 1 day ahead that we had to stay ready to leave and wait at the camp’s gate on the following day at 7. They first checked the lists. When they saw my grandmother in a wheelchair the ambulance of the Germans military took her and helped her with the transport. I was there with her. They took care of her and took her to the airport in Skopje and got her on the plane. We went to Berlin. Afterwards, we arrived at a small village between Berlin and Dresden. We had to stay the night there in the German camp. On the following day, my grandmother was taken to the German hospital where she was treated for 2 weeks. After all the medical examinations she got back to camp. The conditions there were good – we bought our own groceries since they gave us the money. Usually…
The interviewer: Was it a house?
Driton: No, it was a camp – it was like a big cantonment where the former German military had stayed, but the rooms were separated. The rooms were separated in two. There were stoves and bathrooms. We stayed there till August 4th. I wanted to return to Kosovo of my free will. We then organized the way home. They accompanied us from Berlin to Macedonia – Macedonia’s airport. When we arrived in Prishtina I didn’t notice too much damage – the bus station was damaged, but the houses were damaged less – in comparison to other cities. It was a great feeling to return home.
The interviewer: Were you happy?
Driton: Of course. Some of our relatives were in Kosovo so we didn’t have information about what happened to them. Fortunately, the whole neighborhood was fine – most parts of Prishtina were okay.
The interviewer: Thank you!
Driton: You’re welcome!