Under the Skies: Photos Reveal Horror of Kosovo Exodus

A new exhibition, "Jeta nën qiell e najlon", ("Life under the Sky and Nylon)", which records the forced exodus of Albanians from Kosovo during the NATO bombing campaign, including the months immediately after the bombing, has opened at the National Library of Kosovo.

The pictures, taken by photo-journalist Ridvan Slivova, reveal the the pain of those fleeing the country and their later return at the end of the Kosovo war of 1999.

The 20 photographs follow six different stories occurring between March and August 1999. They portray Albanians fleeing their homeland, abandoned villages, the persecution of the population, their later return to their destroyed homes, and the plight of those left missing from the conflict.

"I took these photos while I was civilian and unprotected. I am sharing pictures of abandoned villages, the return of the population after fleeing, genocide, the pursuit of people from Kosovo and the missing," Slivova said.

The Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Vlora Dumoshi, described the exhibition as having historical as well as artistic value. "You have experienced, captured and conveyed the history of Kosovo through photographs," Dumoshi said, addressing the photojournalist.

Slivova has over 30 years of experience as a photojournalist and has practiced his profession in three wars in the region.

Photo: BIRN

Photo: BIRN

Photo: BIRN

Photo: BIRN

Photo: BIRN