LAHORE: A group of 27 Palestinian medical students from Gaza has arrived in Lahore to continue their education in Pakistan, amid the ongoing Israeli violence in their homeland.
The students, part of a larger cohort of 192 medical and dental students, were facilitated under a special arrangement by the Government of Pakistan.
The students arrived via an international airline from Istanbul and were provided with secure accommodation in a local hotel. Before their arrival in Lahore, officials from the Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo, in collaboration with representatives of Al-Khidmat Foundation, facilitated their safe departure from Cairo International Airport.
This initiative comes under the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, aimed at providing Palestinian students with the opportunity to complete their medical education through fully funded programmes in Pakistani universities.
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has also granted special permission for these students to be integrated into local medical and dental institutes.
According to a PMDC spokesperson, the decision to facilitate these students was made at the request of Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London, who highlighted the critical need for medical professionals in Gaza amidst the ongoing crisis.
The PMDC President stated that around 100 medical and dental students are expected to be admitted into Pakistani institutions, ensuring the smooth continuation of their studies.
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Meanwhile, Israeli military continued their relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), around 250,000 people have been displaced following new evacuation orders by Israel’s army.
UNRWA spokesperson Louise Wateridge, speaking from Gaza, emphasized the growing displacement, warning that these numbers are likely to rise as the conflict intensifies.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 42,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign in Gaza, the territory’s health ministry said.
