Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Afghan Veterans Suffer, After Breathing Smoke From Burning Tyres, Faecal Matter
Phil Pennington, Reporter
Health problems from breathing smoke from burning tyres and faecal matter are on the radar of the new Afghanistan Veterans Association.
The association already has about a thousand members online.
Former army major Simon Strombom, who served in Afghanistan and received a Distinguished Service Decoration, helped set it up. He has late-onset asthma, recognised by Veterans Affairs as caused by toxic air exposure.
"In Afghanistan there's not a lot of fuel," he said. "What they do is they actually burn faecal matter, so most of the Afghans through the whole tour, they were saying 25 percent of the dust we were breathing in was just faecal matter."
The new association offered a way to get health problems addressed and a fresh, relevant alternative to other veteran groups, without duplicating their valuable work, said Strombom, who also established the New Zealand Remembrance Army volunteer network in 2018.
The Vietnam Veterans Association had provided seed funding "in a strong gesture of intergenerational support".
Strombom's health was harmed in just six months in-country.
"The effects are coming through, it was a very toxic environment.
"Another example was, when they made bricks because there was no wood, they used car tyres, so we'd come down the roads and there'd be huge plumes of black smoke, and the people making the brick were actually black.
"You're breathing smokey rubber."
Veterans' Affairs had done well by him, but some others struggled, he said.
The new association planned to hold a national remembrance event each August, marking the period when most New Zealand casualties occurred in Afghanistan.
Up to 5000 troops from New Zealand were there for about 20 years until 2021.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Gordon Campbell: On How US Courts Are Helping Donald Trump Steal The Mid-Terms
Forest And Bird: Government Biodiversity Credit Scheme Welcomed As Opportunity For Restoration
Office of the Ombudsman: Ombudsman Publishes Findings On Ministry Of Education Sensitive Claims Scheme
Nelson City Council: Mayor Welcomes Auditor-General Decision Not To Prosecute Councillor
Johnnie Freeland: Ko Tātou Tātou - Climate Action In Aotearoa Begins With Relationship
Zero Waste Network Aotearoa: Container Return Scheme Bill Would Double Recycling Rates And Put Money Back In Households
Wellington City Council: Statement From The Wellington Mayoral Forum On Options For Regional Governance Reform
