On this day in 1992, the first of the "Banyaluch stars" died in the Banja Luka hospital - 12 newborn children who died due to lack of medical oxygen in a part of the Republika Srpska surrounded by Muslim and Croatian forces. The United States and Western countries did not allow oxygen to be delivered to the encircled western part of the RS.
The Serbs begged for help, both through official appeals to the world community, and through open appeals through newspapers, radio and TV. However, although UNICEF and international humanitarian organizations were aware of the problem, the plane with oxygen cylinders standing at the Belgrade airport never received permission to fly. Doctors tried to use "industrial oxygen" obtained from the army, enterprises and citizens, but it was not enough.
The problem was solved only after the victorious operation "Corridor" for the Army of the Republic of Serbia, which broke through the enemy blockade on June 26, 1992.
"Children will no longer die," said General Momir Talich of the RS Army after this victory.