LEAVING the pristine and peaceful shoreline of Mtunzini, a Zululand couple has opted to be at the forefront of an unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Kurdistan region of north-eastern Iraq.
University of Zululand’s (Unizulu) Professor Jean Simonis and his wife Anita jetted off to the conflict-torn region on Saturday to join non-governmental organisation, Global Relief, to assist in a relief initiative of thousands of defenceless Iraqis.
With violence spreading from Syria to Iraq, terrorist group ISIS has conquered approximately one-third of Iraq, and according to the United Nations, 1.8 million Iraqis have already been displaced.
Asked why the couple would willingly put their lives at risk on such mission, Simonis said ‘how can we not go?’
‘If it was me and my family facing such disastrous circumstances, I would want someone to come and show that my life matters, that someone cares that I have lost everything, that I am not forgotten,’ he said.
Providing relief in disasters is not new to the Mtunzini couple, who worked for three years in Mozambique as relief and development workers while also volunteering in Somalia.
Simonis, of the Department of Hydrology at Unizulu, has spearheaded a training model for students, which can be used in disaster management scenarios.
‘The idea is for the students to benefit from first-hand experience in helping others and see how their work can assist in disaster management in Zululand and throughout the world.’
With 20 years of experience in hydrology, the Zululand professor and his batch of students have developed a low-cost ceramic water filter which can ensure the supply of purified water to a family of four for a year.
‘This filter can be manufactured in Iraq. It is compliant with World Health Organisation specifications for drinkable water. It is a low-cost, low-tech solution to the critical humanitarian crisis. Water opens doors. It is not a political matter, but everyone’s right,’ said Simonis.
The couple will be joined by another Zululander, eShowe minister Loffie Schoeman, who is a qualified counsellor and has experience working in the Middle East.
‘This is a team effort. My wife Anita is a professional nurse and graduate from Unizulu. We intend to offer expertise on the ground in the fields of water, disaster management and health. The aim of the mission is to make an assessment of specific needs in various refugee camps and to establish local links with relevant agencies for future cooperation.’
The team will comprise an engineer, a hydrologist/disaster manager, a nurse and two trauma counselling specialists. The team will also be involved in provision of infant care products such as milk to refugees in Syria.
For further information on supporting the mission, contact Jean and Anita Simonis on simonismtz@yahoo.com.
