Serbia estimates damage from NATO bombing in 1999 at 500B euros

NATO must compensate Serbia 500 billion euros ($542.3 billion) for the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, Serbian Health Minister Danica Grujicic said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, Report informs.

According to her, due to NATO’s use of depleted uranium shells in Serbia, the number of patients with cancer increased from 19,000 people in 1999 to 40,000 in 2021. In particular, in the first 10 years after the bombing, oncology caused the death of 10,000-18,000 people. The number of cases of infertility in men has increased 2-3 times, the number of autoimmune diseases has increased, and genetic and mental abnormalities are observed in newborn children.

On March 24, 1999, NATO, without the approval of the UN Security Council, launched the military Operation Allied Force against Yugoslavia. Its reason was given as the refusal of the Yugoslav government to peacefully resolve the conflict. The bombing of Serbian cities lasted 78 days.

According to Serbian authorities, about 2,000 people became victims of the bombing.