A total of 27 Palestinian medical students, part of a larger group of 192, arrived in Lahore from Cairo on Monday to resume their education in Pakistan, according to a leading charitable organization involved in the initiative.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced in July that it would provide scholarships for over 100 Palestinian students to enable them to pursue medical studies in the country amidst the devastation caused by Israel’s ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Since October 7, 2023, the conflict has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 42,000 people in Gaza despite calls for a ceasefire and widespread protests worldwide.
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The students will continue their medical and dental studies at Pakistani institutions through fully funded programs. This initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Global Relief Trust, Doctors of Rahman, and the Al-Khidmat Foundation.
“Twenty-seven more Palestinian students from Gaza arrived in Pakistan to continue their education,” stated the Al-Khidmat Foundation in a press release, which included photos of the students with airport officials upon their arrival. A welcoming banner reading “Welcome Palestine students” was displayed by airport personnel.
Representatives from the Al-Khidmat Foundation and the Pakistani embassy in Cairo assisted the students in departing from Cairo International Airport on Sunday.
In the first phase, 192 Palestinian students will be flown to Pakistan to continue their medical and dental studies, facilitated by Al-Khidmat Foundation, Doctors of Rahman, and the Global Relief Trust.
International media have reported significant destruction of hospitals and educational institutions in Gaza since October of last year. The World Health Organization and other sources have documented severe damage to healthcare facilities, including the largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which is now non-operational due to the ongoing conflict. There are also reports of widespread damage to schools and intentional targeting of Palestinian academics.
