“Never,
in a million years, would I have imagined fleeing away from my country… the only
home I’ve ever known,” Sufian Kamel, 58, said.
Since the February 17th
Libyan Revolution, Libyan refugees have been gradually increasing, not only in
neighboring countries but around the world. Egypt has recently become the safe
haven and shelter for many Libyans who ran away from the warzone that slowly
stole away their lives from them.
“Besides it being the closest
country, especially to the eastern side of Libya, it has always felt like home
to us even on vacations,” said Kamel. “Egypt is also very affordable for us
unlike many countries that will rip us off the money we were left with,” she
added.
Many Libyans in Cairo who are
familiar with each other or met in Cairo in similar circumstances have formed a
unity where they meet up at least once a week and vow to help one another when
one of them is in need of any sort of help. Siham Faraj said, “We choose to
meet at someone’s house every Friday to revive our Libyan traditions and
culture. We drink ‘shahee w haleeb’ (tea with milk) along with ka’ak (Libyan
cookies) and we enjoy our Libyan music while watching our girls dance just like
the old times in Benghazi.”
Faraj’s family fled Libya midst the
fighting between the Libyan army and IS. “We left early Ramadan of 2014. I
couldn’t risk my 4 children’s lives anymore. The easiest and most possible
option was Cairo,” said Faraj with a sorrow look on her face.
There are numerous Libyan families
that migrated to Egypt for various reasons, pre and post the Libyan Revolution.
“We feel at home because many of our family, friends and neighbors are also
here with us. Bumping into them at shopping malls or reuniting for lunch or
evening gatherings allows us to share our sorrows and problems and not feel
alone,” said Kamel. “Our migration taught us that during such hard times we’re
all one big family. When one of us is in need, we’re all lending a hand for
help with what we could help,” he added with a slight smile on his face and
teary eyes.
The number of the Libyan community
in Cairo has been raised and multiplied by two since the Libyan crisis has
emerged. The majority of the Libyan community chooses to reside in the eastern
side of Cairo – mostly near Nasr City and Rehab city/compound. This allows them
to communicate easily and casually bump into each other in the streets or in
the malls, restaurants, etc.
Faraj said that “in Benghazi, we all knew each other and we ran
into people we know on the daily, either on the streets, at work, in gatherings
or while running errands. In Cairo, it feels less lonely than any other city
because we still bump into some of these people the same way.”
Part of the Libyan culture is the Libyan green or red tea, referred
to as “tassa hamra” or “tassa khadhra” meaning red cup or green cup, as well as
their famous pastries that are devoured daily and loved by the population. Both
Kamel and Faraj agreed that they both enjoy their family or friends’ gatherings
with the mentioned food. “Without the ‘tassa hamra’ the sitting would be
incomplete,” said Kamel, “It is a must when Libyans gather.”
Many of the Libyans residing in Cairo are
not employed because they have left their businesses or job positions back in
their hometowns in Libya. Just like those people, Faraj mentioned the financial
crisis she went through six months after settling in Cairo. “The girls always
want to go out, and they all want pocket money, shopping money and food money
almost every day,” said Faraj, “I don’t want them to feel like their lives changed
to the worse so I can never refuse their requests,” she added.
As a hardworking, caring mother, Faraj had
to make money because she was running out of the budget she made for her trip
to Cairo, thinking she will be back in her home in Benghazi by the beginning of
her children’s academic year in September 2014. By November 2014, Faraj had to
find a job. “I never thought I will be put in this situation, but when I was, I
faced it,” said Faraj with a smile of courage and strength shown in her eyes. “The
only possible income I could get in Cairo was from cooking Libyan food for
those having events or weddings or even gatherings,” stated Faraj.
Faraj started cooking meals and pastries
for those who made orders for big events for a good amount of people. She
worked hard for days to get the food ready and exact on time. Even though her
daughters were not happy or used to her new job, they highly appreciated her
efforts to keep them on the same level of life they were used to. Faraj’s
husband was absent so she was the father and the mother of her family. “It
wasn’t easy moving here all by myself. I never expected to build a life
elsewhere; everything happened unexpectedly but went smooth, thank god,” said
Faraj with a frown on her face.
“I am just trying to survive until things
get better and I go back to my city, my house and my life,” cried Faraj, “but
I’m grateful, I really am. People here are helpful and make us feel at home, at
all times.”
On the other hand, Kamel, the well-off
Libyan businessman has been residing in Cairo since October 2011, post the
February 17th Revolution. “I moved here to keep my children safe and
have them continue their studies,” Kamel said, “I bought a house here in 2008
that I never thought I would use, but thank god I bought it because it was the
place we ran to for safety and survival.”
Kamel, as many other Libyan men remain
unemployed but for different reasons; Kamel doesn’t need a job yet isn’t used
to being free at all times. “If you ask me how I spent the past four years I
will tell you I don’t know. I was always a busy man,” said Kamel, “I have
farms, employees and responsibilities that kept me busy from day to night,
daily. Now, I wake up dreading the days only hoping to go back to my old life.”
Unlike many of the recent Libyans who
joined the community in Cairo, Kamel is lucky to be able to afford a relaxed
living in Cairo for him and his family. Others come to Cairo with a certain
amount of money that ends quickly with no ongoing income and no guaranteed
help. Refugees are usually helped by their embassies in countries around the
world, but due to the current Libyan crisis, this help isn't available.
Heba Naami, a 30 year old working girl who
moved to Cairo summer 2014 with her family for safety, has luckily found a job
in a Libyan television station that pays her well and keeps her busy. "I
always kept myself busy in Tripoli and I knew I was going to stay a while in
Cairo so I applied for the job and got it easily," said Naami. She stated
that after the second month of living in Cairo she started missing home in
Tripoli although she always met many of her friends and relatives who resided
around her in Cairo.
"When I set my mind to a goal, I reach
it," said Naami "and I set my mind to building and adapting to a new
life here and keeping myself positive."
Naami lives her parents and young brother
who missed a year of school due to the warzone that went on for while in
Libya's capital city, Tripoli. "We managed to get my brother to enroll in
the Libyan school here in Cairo as soon as we arrived. It was our priority
after finding a place to stay," said Naami.
"I miss home a lot. When I think of
all the deaths, destruction, displaced people, refugees and the loss of hope, I
lose my mind," cried Naami, "I can't believe what my country came
to."
Naami talked about the Libyan gatherings
that they have where she lives in Rehab city and how they "always make me
feel like I'm home, even for a few hours. I even met people who were my
neighbors in Tripoli that I never got the chance to get to know before. We are
a big family now," laughed Naami.
The Libyan community in Cairo has various,
heart-wrenching stories of war, struggle and displacement that no summary can
do justice. The majority of the current community is made of refugees who fled
away from warzones looking for a normal life and the rest of the old Libyan community
is made up of those who ran away from the dictatorship of Muaamar Gaddafi and have
been living in Cairo for over decades.
Jayda Tumi, a 35 year old woman who was
born in Cairo said that "even though I've lived here my whole life, Libya
has always taken a huge part of my life and heart. We visited often especially
in the past 10 to 15 years because my parents wanted us to remember where we
came from."
Tumi has a life in Cairo just like any
other Egyptian does. "Sometimes I feel like I'm half Libyan, half Egyptian
because part of me will always remain here. Cairo is home and Libya is also
home," said Tumi.
Tumi stated that most of her Libyan
acquaintances are also Libyans who were born and raised in Egypt, "we are
actually a lot, with very similar stories and lifestyles. I think this is what
made me feel good about always being the different one between my Egyptian – I
knew I wasn't the only one."
During the fighting in the Revolution, many
of the causalities were sent to Cairo for treatment and are either still under
treatment, or decided to reside there after their treatments were over.
Siraj Bennur, a 32 year old who was injured
in the battle of western Libyan city, Sirte in October 2011 has been getting
treated through many surgeries, physical therapy, etc throughout the past 4
years. Unfortunately, Bennur cannot afford to pay to for his own treatment that
the temporary Libyan government was paying for through the Libyan embassy in
Cairo.
"The government stopped paying the
amounts due to the hospital and we (the injured Libyan fighters) received very
poor treatment, not only medically but also behaviorally," said Bennur.
"I risked my life and left my work to fight for a better future for my
country but what was my reward?"
Bennur, as the majority of the fighters who
were in the frontlines during the battles over Libya in 2011 only fought to
have justice and a fair regime to develop their country and offer them jobs and
bright future.
"I only hope for one thing now, and it
is not money, power or even a job. My wish is for Libya to get back like it was
or better, for the army to win the battle against IS and continue what the
youth started in 2011," said Bennur with a very deep tone and tears in his
eyes.
Libyans
have been escaping their country’s turmoil by moving to countries like Egypt,
Tunisia, Jordan, and Turkey, which are believed to be the countries with the
most Libyan refugees that have increased throughout the past four years after
the start of the Libyan revolution then the current crisis.
Egypt has always had its borders and arms
open for refugees and especially for its Libyan neighbors, although it has
closed the Libyan-Egyptian borders a few times due to fear of the terror in
Libya reaching Egypt, which has caused Libyans to get stuck for days, even
weeks, in the borders. The borders are currently open to Libyans but the visa
and entrance policies have been changed since mid 2014. Libyan men of all ages
need a visa to enter Egypt either through flying or the border, whereas women
do not need a visa.
All families and visitors, not only Libyans
but also any foreigners, who enter Egypt and stay longer than three months,
need a residency in order to remain longer. If a residency is not issued, the
person(s) are to pay a fine at the airport or border when leaving the Egyptian
lands.
Tumi said “I’ve lived here for almost 25
years and never needed a visa up till last year during the Libyan crisis and
the increase of the refugees from different place in Egypt. But it wasn’t hard
for me to get one because I own an apartment here and my children go to
schools.”
Other refugees who do not own any property
in Egypt or have any children enrolled in schools and universities have very
hard times issuing residencies. Some of them are desperate enough to pay up
till $1000 to lawyers who end up issuing them fake residencies that put them in
even bigger problems.
All Libyans that escaped to Cairo are in
need of some sort of help from their government and embassy that is not offered
and usually refused. Most of these needs require money - hospital fees, school
and university fees, accommodations, etc.
Many
school-aged children have been deprived of their education since the war has
started and their schools have shut down, eventually causing them to move. Many
of these children’s families cannot afford to put their children in schools in
Cairo or any other city they’ve moved to due to the responsibilities they have
and the shortage of money.
“We can’t complain. Cairo feels the most
like home, not just to me but to all Libyans here I believe,” said Naami “life
is easier for us Libyans here than anywhere else,” she added.
“I think all we pray for day and night is
to go back our homes, our jobs and our life. We want our old life back, our
country back. Nothing more, nothing less.. We want peace,” said Faraj.