Who is the Sarajevan whose picture went around the world: In '92 he crawled with a rifle, today with an empty pot

The image of Sarajevan Haris Šegalo lying with an empty pot in front of the building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been published by a large number of world media.

The Bosnian authorities paid more than 300,000 BAM for the renovation of the new sidewalk in front of the Presidency building, and at the end of November a ceremony was held for its opening, to which the media were also invited. This provoked a sharp reaction from the public. During the ceremony, Šegalo lay down on the renovated sidewalk and simulated eating from an empty pot. He says he wanted to point out that the authorities are allocating huge amounts of money for unnecessary projects, while at the same time former soldiers are starving or are homeless.

- When the war started, I joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was only 19 years old then. But I didn't care about that. I proudly carried a rifle and defended my country, first as a soldier of the 102nd unit of the 1st Corps, and later as a member of the Guard Brigade – says Šegalo for Patria.

When the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended, Šegalo, like thousands of other soldiers, had no job. He came out of the war with PTSD. He found it increasingly difficult to cope.

The brave soldier who once defended the city now barely survives in it. He says he fears becoming homeless. He has lost his self-confidence.

- The hardest thing for me is that I don't have a roof over my head. Friends helped me rent an apartment, but I struggle to gather the money to pay the rent. The apartment is paid for December, but in January I could be on the street – says Šegalo.

THE ONLY SUPPORT IN LIFE ARE WAR COMRADES Haris Šegalo and Sibel Sarić from the Association of Soldiers - underage volunteers of the defensive-liberation war

Anyone who wants to help this man can contact the phone number 060 328 2550.