Collateral Damage

Friendly Fire is an oxymoron. 
- Sgt. John G. Ford, US Army, 0ct. 2007, foreword in DMZ 4 by Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli, Nathan Fox

The authorities and public instances, have asked the government to seek out and clarify the battles of the past week. Between 15 and 50 people would have died. Later, there were estimates of about 45 civilian casualties and at least 200 wounded. The estimated death toll has now risen to 70. Caused by both The Military and Burgertroepen.

- "There was no warning! It started suddenly and they said that if there were fightings, we would stay inside. Only hours later a soldier helped us out of danger. "

- "The authorities had told us that if there is a fighting is you should look for cover, otherwise you would be in danger! But even when we were hiding in the basement it was being shot. "
By who?
- "By The Militairy! They thought that there were Burgertroepen! "

The Militairy and initially the authorities speak of a successful operation now the order is partially restored. But Human Rights groups draw different conclusions.
"People were bombed, and also outside the combat zones. In that bombing, most casualties fell. There was no warning! If there had been warnings, the civilians could leave the area, and acts from the authorities and Militairy against Burgertroepen could’ve been more effectively! "

So far, there can still not be determined exactly, how many civilian casualties have fallen. Soldiers of The Militairy responded to the above comments that it is very difficult to distinguish a civilian from a Burgertroepen-militant. "A person running from one side of the street to the other, might have hidden a weapon. And when we turn around, he might have hidden it again and then we cannot intervene. "
There are additional messages and rumors of civilians slain by Burgertroepen, or even used as human shields.

For the people here it is extremely complex. They suffer from the Burgertroepen, militias and terrorists. But also from the authorities and The Militairy who want to restore order and to relieve the city.

Until now there has not yet been responded to the stray mortar strikes, outside the battle zone.