In Cuba we are
treated like family
Nuria
Barbosa Leon
Photo: Karoly Emerson (ICAP)
"In Cuba we feel at home", commented
young Sahrawi, Mohamed Bachir Salek, currently in
his first year of study at the Latin American School
of Medicine in Havana. "Here, you adapt very quickly
because Cubans are very welcoming. You are always
treated like a son and you feel like one of the
family. You don’t miss home, because they talk to us
a lot, include us in their daily activities, and
they make us happy," he stated, speaking with
Granma International.
|
Tea
ceremony, one of the traditions Sahrawi
students maintain in Cuba. |
In August 1976, the first group of
young Sahrawis arrived in Cuba to attend secondary
school. The following year, 11 Cuban doctors arrived
at the refugee camp in Tinduf, where many more
medical professionals have worked since then.
Currently, Cuba receives high-school students who go
on to study medicine at universities in the country.
"Saharan people know about Cuba;
many people have come to study and returned as
technicians or professionals to help in the economic
development of the areas where we live. I know
doctors, professors and engineering graduates in
this Caribbean island," said Mohamed, also
commenting that he decided to become a doctor to
help those most in need in his country. "This
profession makes us more human, because we learn to
give the best of ourselves to save lives and treat
illnesses."
His classmate, Fana Nafi Buzeid,
explained that after finishing high-school, the
students with the best grades opt to study abroad
because, there are no higher education institutions
where they live. "We live in camps, controlled by
Moroccans, in hostile living conditions."
Fana also stated that in Cuba she is
able to maintain the native cultural traditions of
her country and, although studying medicine requires
a lot of time, she always finds a way to practice
dancing, singing and the Muslim religion.
As an example she commented on the
national celebrations in the month of May,
commemorating the anniversary of the beginning of
the armed independence struggle and the creation of
the people’s army, Polisario Front. "In Cuba we
celebrate important events, dancing and singing to
the beat of the drum and clapping, and chanting."
Sahrawi students live with the joy
which accompanies the tireless struggle for
sovereignty, independence and justice; the
enthusiasm and optimism generated by solidarity; the
certainty that the sacrifice will be compensated
with victory, stated Melainine Etkana, ambassador of
the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to Cuba.
"Since 1975 the Sahrawi people have
been engaged in the bloodiest struggle in history
against the Moroccan occupation of its lands. After
the cease-fire in 1991 we hoped for a democratic
Referendum to decide our sovereignty, however, the
interference of foreign nations and the continual
manipulations and intransigence of the Moroccans in
the United Nations has stopped this from happening,
violating completely international laws," stated
Etkana after paying homage to the struggle initiated
May 10, 1973, for the emancipation of Western
Sahara, which had its baptism of fire May 20, led by
the POLISARIO.
"Cuba has been a sister country
supporting our cause as if it were its own, since
the beginning. Thousands of Sahrawi professionals
have graduated from Cuba and it has the most noble
medical mission in the world. We have always had the
sincere and loyal support of Cuba, its people,
leaders and Revolution," she concluded.
