Described as "a sleepy cul de sac" because of its geographic location in a valley enclosed by hills and mountains, the Srebrenica enclave was easily blockaded by the Bosnian Serb forces of Colonel General Ratko Mladić, isolating the Dutch battalion, causing serious deficiencies in provisions.
The Srebrenica enclave, nicknamed "a sleepy cul-de-sac" because of its location in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains, was effectively blocked by Bosnian Serb forces led by Colonel General Ratko Mladić, trapping the Dutch battalion and causing severe shortages of supplies.