Bombing of Niš - the Bulevar residential settlement

On 12 May 1999, NATO bombed a residential settlement on the Bulevar in Niš with cluster bombs, killing 9 civilians.

Cluster bombs in a residential zone

CBU-87 cluster bombs were used, which open in the air and release 202 bomblets. An enormous area of the residential settlement was covered.

Victims - families

9 civilians were killed:

• The Jovanović family (3 members):
  • Milan Jovanović (42 years old, father)
  • Dragica Jovanović (39 years old, mother)
  • Marko Jovanović (12 years old, son)
• The Petrović family (2 members):
  • Slobodan Petrović (45 years old)
  • Ana Petrović (8 years old, daughter)
• Other victims:
  • Milica Nikolić (55 years old)
  • Dragan Đorđević (38 years old)
  • Vera Stanković (67 years old)
  • Goran Marković (24 years old, student)

Unexploded bomblets

Over 30 bomblets from the cluster bombs did not detonate immediately, remaining like mines. Over the following 3 days:

• 2 children were killed by unexploded bomblets
• 5 people were seriously injured

Banned weapon

Cluster bombs were later banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008) precisely because of tragedies such as this.