Adel Sufian, who had an Erasmus experience in Nursing at the University of Jaén (UJA), is currently in Gaza, surviving in precarious conditions while processing his application for Refugee Student Aid. Sufian recounts the daily anguish of living in a makeshift tent in Khan Younis, facing despair and the trauma of losing family members in bombings.
Despite physical and psychological scars, marked by the loss of his brother at age four and five family members in a 2014 bombing, Sufian developed a strong desire to help others. He studied Nursing at the University of Gaza and, thanks to his high grades, was able to undertake an exchange at UJA during the 2022-2023 academic year. The city of Jaén became a symbol of hope and freedom for him.
His return to Gaza to complete his studies coincided with the onset of intense attacks. Sufian describes life in the Strip as an "exhausting daily battle against despair," where the possibility of death is a constant. Conditions in the tent are extreme, insufficient to protect from heat or cold, and the lack of clean water, food, and medicine exacerbates the situation, spreading diseases.
“"For me, it was much more than just any city; walking through its streets was like feeling like a reborn bird, breathing freely. In Jaén, everything was different, even the air felt lighter, and for the first time in my life, I felt like a human being whose potential mattered."
Sufian remembers Jaén as a vital refuge, a place where he rediscovered the value of life and Andalusian hospitality. "The unique spirit of the Andalusians there deeply moved me," he states, describing the kindness of the neighbors as his "only refuge from the dust and despair."
With the help of the International Human Rights Foundation, he has passed the first phase of his asylum application at UJA. Meanwhile, he volunteers at Nasser Medical Hospital, despite exhaustion and the lack of basic resources, such as antibiotics or clean water, to treat the injured and sick.
The young man expresses his deep desire to return to Jaén, not just as an escape from the war, but as an opportunity to reclaim his "stolen humanity" and build a future. He dreams of pursuing postgraduate studies and living "with absolute freedom and without fear," being recognized for his intellect rather than just as a "survivor."
Sufian appeals to the international community to listen to individual stories beyond the numbers, demanding justice and the fundamental right to live. "We are not asking for charity or compassion; we demand justice and our fundamental right to stay alive. Please, do not look away. Do not let my story end here," he concludes.
