engleski

Female deaths in 1991-1995 war in Croatia

The precise measurement of the true effect of war is methodologically difficult, if even possible. It is usually assessed primarily in terms of its most direct and visible effects: death and injury through conflict. We focused on female population died as a consequence of war activities in Croatia from 1991-1995. We performed a review of the files of our Department relating to war victims. Autopsy records dated from year 1995 to 2004 were analysed. Out of 2850 cases, there were 571 females. Results of forensic processing of those cases are presented. Two hundred thirty nine bodies were recovered from individual graves, containing 1 or 2 bodies. Such burials were in most cases overlapping with the place of death. The rest of 332 cases were excavated from mass graves resulting from territory sanitation after cessation of war activities (so called secondary graves), implying the transportation of the bodies from the place of death to the place of the burial. Territorial distribution of the sites throughout the country reflected the intensity of war operations in particular regions of Croatia, putting the Eastern Slavonia on the first place by incidence of the cases. The age distribution of identified females showed the mean value of 63 years. Putative age of still unidentified women from the sample was similar, around 57 years, based on the anthropological assessment. The cause of death was established in 356 cases (62%). Leading cause of death was gunshot wounds (177 cases, 31%), followed by explosive wounds (101 cases ; 18%) and other mechanical trauma (43 cases, 8%). Natural death was confirmed in 35 cases (6%). Identification rate of this population is currently 77%. In overwhelming majority (94%), the cases were closed by standard, classical forensic methods of identification. Combination of usual identification elements leaded to the identity establishment in 78% of such cases. Only exceptionally, some single element (e.g. dental status, tattoo, ID) was distinctive and reliable enough to provide identity confirmation. Only minority of cases (28) were solved with the help of DNA analysis. That reflects good state of preservation of the examined material during the early years of exhumation programme in Croatia. The full harm of war encompasses extensive damage to vulnerable populations including the female one. Work on identification of exhumed human remains posses a substantial humanitarian aspect which is of importance for the afflicted families.

female victim ; identification ; human remains ; war, Croatia

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