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April 6th marks the 20th anniversary of the Bosnian war, which broke out following the recognition of the independent state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

More than 100,000 people died in the inter-ethnic conflict, which lasted from 1992 to 1995. Nearly half of Bosnia’s pre-war population of 4.3 million fled their homes during the war.At least 10,000 people were killed — many by sniper or rocket fire — during the 44-month siege of Sarajevo. The siege is considered the longest siege of a capital city in modern history. By the time the war ended, the population of Sarajevo was only 64% of its pre-war high.

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Serb forces, numbering about 18,000, surrounded the city with artillery, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft weapons. By the end of the siege, the city’s defenders only had five tanks and about 20 artillery pieces left.

The city was heavily shelled during the siege, with the Bosnian government estimating that more than $10 billion in damages was incurred. It wasn’t until the mid-2000s that most buildings were completely repaired.

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