The government has been urged to help Syrian students studying in the UK, who are facing severe financial difficulties and the threat of deportation. An online pressure group, Avaaz, which lobbied for Libyan students in 2011, has collected 40,000 signatures on a petition calling on ministers to give Syrian students special consideration. 

According to Avaaz, some 670 Syrian students in the UK are facing serious difficulties. Much of their funding previously originated from Syria’s Higher Education Ministry. However, since the UK imposed sanctions on Syrian banks, grants have ceased to be awarded. In addition, the Syrian embassy in London, which usually handles student payments, has seen staff numbers axed. 

Universities minister Dave Willetts has issued a statement saying he, “appreciates the potential challenges” encountered by Syrian students. The government is being pressured to offer the same benefits to Syrian students as were extended to their Libyan counterparts (such as the suspension of fees and introduction of hardship funding).  

Avaaz, however, believe the government has already deserted the students. On their website they “many [students] have been threatened by their universities with immediate expulsion - many have already been expelled”.

Jihno Clement, the International Officer for CUSU, explained the situation in Cambridge, saying “iCUSU has no plans to organise a campaign on this matter, since (to the best of our knowledge) it is not affecting any of our members.”

“However,I find it regrettable that UK-imposed sanctions designed to pressure a government in Syria is adversely affecting not only the personal lives of students in Britain, but also the research initiatives which rely on these students' work”

His hopes are in line with that of Avaaz, as he maintained that “while a waiver may be beyond budgetary limits, I hope that at least a deferral of payment could be offered”. 

Fitzwilliam graduate Roisin Blake has taken action of her own, organizing the Jasmine Ball in London in aid of the UNICEF appeal for Syrian children. 

As an Arabist, Roisin spent much of her year abroad working in Damascus, now a mere half a mile from the heat of the battle between rebels and the Syrian government. Witnessing the conflict firsthand prompted Roisin to assemble a committee that includes other former Cambridge Arabists.

Roisin told Varsity, “One of the main causes for emigration from Syria to western countries has historically been education. However, since the beginning of the Syrian conflict almost two years ago simple survival has been the major push factor. Children and youngsters are most affected by this.” She aims to “to raise money and awareness for one of the most grave humanitarian crises of the past 50 years.”

For the many Syrian students pursuing higher education in Britain, the threat of having to discontinue their studies and return to a bloody warzone is disturbingly real. Aid may be on its way in to the country, but it appears that little is being done to help those outside it.  

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Syria - update

Phelim Brady

Since the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011, the bitter civil war has claimed the lives of an estimated 60,000 Syrians. On Thursday it was reported that government warplanes were bombing rebel-held areas close to Damascus, the nation’s capital. The Assad regime said it was targeting “terrorists”, as Free Syrian Army activists fought for control of one of the main roads in to the capital.

The conflict has also seen a mass exodus of Syrian refugees to surrounding countries, with 3,000 estimated to be crossing the border with Jordan each day. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jordan estimates 50,000 people are still waiting to cross, describing the situation as “extremely critical”.