Limerick student pleas for help to reunite with her family stuck 'between life and death' in Gaza
The 25-year-old fears she could lose her family at any moment
A Limerick student is hoping to reunite with her family, who are living “between life and death” in Gaza.
Tamar Nejem, a 25-year-old Limerick student, has appealed for help to reunite with her family members, whom she fears she could lose at any moment.
Tamar’s family home was damaged by bombings and her family sought shelter at her uncle’s house. Then, her parents, little sister and four brothers lived in tents after being told they had to evacuate.
“They had to evacuate in 24 hours and leave. Suddenly, they have been targeted and the place around them has been erased so they left the house running for their lives without food, clothes or anything under bombing, live shooting and phosphorus gas,” she told us.
Her family saw dead bodies “all the way” to Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, where they sought shelter.
“They had to see dead people and bodies all the way. They had to evacuate to Rafah as they assume it’s a safe place and they had to live in hard conditions in a tent sharing a small space and eating canned foods. They got sick many times with no medical treatment, they have been targeted inside Rafah where they assumed it’s safe,” Tamar explained.
She explained that everything in Gaza is expensive as traders are “using the situation” to make more money.
“Multiply the real price with ten nowadays. It’s really hard for them to get food every day. They had to drink dirty water and when it rains the tent sink with water and they spend the night washing the tent and shivering. Sometimes they shower every 2 weeks as they lack clean water.
“When they were living in a tent, women couldn’t have access to bathrooms as they had to use a cover and use a bucket to relieve themselves. So, they only used to go twice a day and that’s it, which led them to kidneys problems and they got sick. It’s also harder when you’re on your period,” she says.
Despite the hardships her family faces every day, Tamar is trying to remain hopeful. Although, she finds it hard to, as there is a “price on human life” for those who want to cross the Egyptian border.
“To go to Egypt you need to pay €7000 to €10 000, it’s like putting a price on your life as a human. I’m doing all that I can but without help, it’s hard. I’m hoping that people will understand how important it is, I can lose them any minute. I hope to be reunited with them once I get them out.”
For 20 weeks without fail, crowds have been attending pro-Palestine rallies in Limerick city. A demonstration take place every Saturday on Bedford Row at 1pm.
Tamar has been touched by the support showed by the Limerick community, which makes her feel like people care and Palestinians are not dying “in vain”.
“It makes me feel like I can do something for my people, it makes me feel like the world cares for us and that we aren’t just a number or animals. It makes me feel like somebody cares and our death isn’t going in vain, it makes me feel loved and welcomed. It makes me feel at home,” she shared.
According to health officials, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Tamar points out the war should not be referred to as a conflict.
“The definition of a conflict is that two equal parties in power are fighting. But in Gaza, there is only one side in this war that is systematically cutting water, electricity and food, starving people till death and making fun of their grief. It’s not a religious war, it’s about humanity. We are humans, like anyone in the world. We want to live and have a decent life. We have limits, we aren’t heroes, we just want to live, have the right to travel, love and have a good education. We are brilliant people and an extraordinary nation.”
Speaking of what she loves most about Gaza, she notes: “The most precious thing that I love about home is the simplicity that lies in everything. Gaza might not be the fanciest city in the world, but it never fails to make us feel loved.”
You can help Tamar's family by donating to the fundraiser here.