People in war zones deserve peace: Mawahib al Shaibani

By Shivangi Mishra New Delhi [India], Nov. 22 (ANI): Mawahib al Shaibani, who works as an Art of Living member to provide trauma relief and support to refugees and victims of war in Syria and Iraq, has said that though the menace of terrorism exists, these people should be given a chance to live in peace. Mawahib is currently spearheading a rescue operation for Yazidis trapped in Sinjar and is presently in India, along with 27 Iraqis from different faiths - Sunnis, Shias, Christians, Yazidis, to learn techniques that will give them peace and free them from trauma. They will then return as instructors to teach these peace-giving techniques in one of the most conflict-ridden and traumatized regions of the world. People who constantly live in a war torn country get affected psychologically and need to be provided relief and taught how to find peace through various exercises and activities. When asked about her experience of working in two different countries, both of which are war hit, she told ANI over phone, that in Iraq the suffering regions are accessible for aid and relief, but such is not the case with Syria. Many regions in Syria are completely inaccessible due to heavy shelling and the people there are stranded without any help, she said. She said everyone wants peace and the international community should help them address problems at the grass root level. She also agreed that terrorism needs to be rooted out. Sharing her experience on working in Syria, she said, "Thousands were trapped in the mountains with no food or water. 7000 Yazidi girls, aged between 9-35 years, were taken captive by the ISIS. We rescued and rehabilitated a 15-year-old girl victim of gang-rape along with many other women who are trapped and are being sold by ISIS for as little as USD 10." She is currently involved in a women empowerment project that trains Iraqi women in computers and other income generation activities. (ANI)