Inside the Tent

Article written by Iwaly Dadi January 2010

The Saharawis in the refugee camps are living in cloth tents. All the family members including the father, the mother and the children are living in one tent where they sleep and eat. The tent is called the Jaima and the women have the main responsibility for it. They look after it and make sure it is tidy and in a good condition. The Saharawi people struggle because of the extreme weather conditions which make life in the refugee camps very difficult.

Life under the Jaima changes depending on the weather conditions. When it rains the water gets into the tent and soaks everything. When it is cold the people have nothing to heat the tent with. On the other hand, when it is hot the extreme heat makes life really hard. The Saharawis live under the mercy of nature. When the conditions are normal life is OK, but when it changes we start to worry.

The Jaima can also be dangerous. Under windy conditions something sharp may fall on the tent and hurt the people inside it. My mother gets worried when she sees the weather change. She asks God to stop the wind as it will be hard for her to repair the tent again. It took her a long time to sow it.

We have mixed feelings under the tent. We think about both the difficult and the good things. This is how the Saharawis can fight the circumstances they are in.

The hospitality of the Saharawi people is unique. Our jaimas are open all the time and we greet everyone that comes to us. When someone comes and says Salam Alaikum, the people will greet him and make him feel at home. The Saharawis show a special hospitality towards guests. The tea is a symbol of the Saharawi's generousity. They won't let you go before you have had tea with them. The tea session is very traditional and there are many details about it.

The Saharawis drink three cups of tea, each one with its own story. They say that the first one is bitter like life, the second one is sweet like love and the third one is smooth like death.

If you have a chance to visit the Saharawi families in their tents, the delicious tea, the mint smell and the warmth of the family will give you an unforgettable experience. Despite the difficulties that the Saharawis face, there are always moments of joy and happiness.

The tent is the temporary house for Saharawi refugees until they return back to their homeland. They live far away in exile for a human goal. The goal is the right for all nations all over the world to live free and independent and to enjoy their natural resources. The Saharawis look forward to a bright future with freedom and democracy. By letting the Saharawis decide on their own future, the current situation will end. It will bring an end to the suffering as well as the life in the tents, which now have lasted for more than three decades.