Convoy in war zone

TWO Eastbourne relief workers have survived an aid mission to the war-torn Balkans.

Paula Gallagher, 58, and Brenda Sterry, 62, arrived back in Britain on July 10 after 19 days in Albania, on the border with Kosovo.

They were part of an all-women convoy delivering food, medicine and other supplies to starving families.

Flanked by a police escort, the 10 vehicles made their way to within 10km of the war-zone.

From the moment they arrived in Bajram Curri the sound of gunfire was never far away.

Brenda Sterry, a retired police chief inspector, of Willow Drive, Polegate, said, “I couldn’t get used to the silence when we got back.”

But as her colleague and retired paediatric nurse, Paula Gallagher, of Cavendish Avenue, explained, the gun-toting did not stop there.

She said, “When we went swimming one day some men started throwing grenades into the water — what we didn’t realise was they were fishing.”

In such a lawless society the pair witnessed many scenes of despair.

Brenda said, “I knew before I left Albania was a poor country but the reality was far worse than anything I had imagined.

“Our aid was very necessary, not just for the refugees from Kosovo, but what we delivered really only scratched the surface.”

However, even as it made its way home, the convoy — part of Operation Angel — experienced more trouble.

Sally Becker, operation co-ordinator, from Hove, who had stayed behind, was arrested by Serbians.

Foreign office officials are currently negotiating for her release.

[Published Eastbourne Gazette 29th July 1998. With much thanks to David Sterry for providing this article.]