An Egyptian man has finally returned to his family, after more than 33 years of living with amnesia, a condition caused by a traumatic experience in Libya. His story, as reported by Cairo Live, is a remarkable tale of survival and resilience.
Mokhtar Awda’s journey began in 1991, when he left Egypt to seek employment opportunities in Libya. At that time, crossing into Libya required nothing more than a personal ID. He found work as a construction laborer, alongside an Egyptian colleague.
However, a few days into his job, a fellow worker demanded payment from their employer. When his colleague insisted on receiving his wages, the situation escalated dramatically.
In a shocking turn of events, his colleague was shot dead.
Awda was a firsthand witness to this gruesome murder, and the traumatic experience had a profound impact on him. Overwhelmed by shock and fearing for his life, he fled the scene, leaving behind his identity, and his past.
On his escape, Awda encountered a Libyan national who owned a sizable farm. The man offered him work, and for the next 33 years, Awda toiled on the farm while suffering from amnesia.
It was only three months ago that Awda had an encounter that would change his life. While working on the farm, he met a young man from his homeland, the Beheira Governorate. As they struck up a conversation, something extraordinary happened. The young man began reminiscing about Awda’s wife and children, even mentioning his village’s name.
This encounter prompted him to ask the young man to visit his family, and inform them of his whereabouts, as he lacked any identification documents to return on his own.
Upon his return, Awda was met with devastating news: his wife and all his siblings had passed away during his long absence. He now faces the challenging task of obtaining the necessary identification documents, and an official identity card.