Gaza Medical Students Get UK Charity Funding

Two medical students from Gaza will have their studies in the UK fully funded by a charity. The students were forced to leave Gaza after their universities were damaged or destroyed in the recent conflict.

They are the first to join the University of Leicester’s Displaced Medical Student Initiative. This program helps students affected by war, natural disasters, or persecution to continue their education abroad.

The students, called Mariam and Layla to protect their privacy, could no longer study in Gaza because the universities there were badly damaged. Their four-year courses in Leicester will be paid for by a £78,000 donation from The Hanoon Foundation, a UK charity that supports medical education in the Palestinian territories.

The University of Leicester will also waive tuition fees for students who join through this initiative. A fund has been set up to support more students like them in the future.

The chairman of The Hanoon Foundation said the charity is proud to support these students. He added that they will be important for rebuilding healthcare in Gaza and Palestine after the conflict.

The conflict began after a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, leading to a military response from Israel. Since then, more than 54,000 people have died in Gaza, including many civilians. The fighting has destroyed much of the region’s infrastructure, including schools and hospitals.

Layla said Gaza is unsafe and damaged, including her home university, which was bombed many times. She hopes to return one day to rebuild Gaza and practice medicine.

Mariam said coming to study in Leicester gave her hope during a difficult time. She feels grateful for the chance to study but also worries about her friends who do not have the same opportunity.

The director of international teaching at Leicester Medical School explained that despite the ongoing dangers in Gaza, the funding helps remove barriers for these students. It allows them to finish their studies and return as doctors.

Supporting medical students from Gaza is seen as a step toward rebuilding the health system in the region. Their education abroad will help provide care to those affected by the conflict once peace returns.