On September 17, 34 students were evacuated from Gaza to the United Kingdom to begin their studies. Many of them had applied for their visas after I applied for mine. Yet, when I received the news of their exit, I felt joy and peace for them. They were finally safe and on their way to new beginnings. I kept my spirits up, believing that my turn would come soon. But when the next evacuation list arrived on September 29, the shock struck me with crushing force: there were 17 more names on it, but mine was not among them.
I am not the only one facing this mystery. There are at least eight other students in Gaza that I know of who received prestigious scholarships to attend UK higher education institutions many months ago, but despite meeting the eligibility criteria announced by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), they have still not been listed for evacuation.
Our fully funded scholarships at leading UK universities are now at risk – not because our institutions failed to advocate for us, but because of unexplained and inconsistent delays in the evacuation process. My programme at the University of Birmingham officially began on September 29. My place is fully secured, with tuition fees, living costs and accommodation already paid for through a Sanctuary Scholarship. Yet, I am still trapped in Gaza, waiting for confirmation that never comes.
When the first cohort left, I cheered. I told myself, and the other students who were inexplicably left out of the evacuation list, not to compare, not to despair. Each person’s turn would come. The evacuation process had started at last, finally offering a glimmer of hope after months of waiting, applications, interviews and near-constant fear. But then came the next list, including just 17 names. To my disbelief, none of the early applicants who were still waiting were on it. Those being contacted were students who had submitted their visa applications weeks after us. Some had applied just days before their evacuation.
Meanwhile, I refresh my phone day and night, sleeping with it on my pillow in case the government’s email arrives. I have been assured by my university, MP and solicitor that I am indeed eligible – I meet all the criteria, have filled all the forms and cleared all the hurdles. All documents have been sent multiple times to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Home Office. My admission is confirmed, my funding is guaranteed and my accommodation is booked, waiting for my arrival. There is no missing paperwork, no unresolved questions. And yet, I wait.
There will perhaps be other evacuation waves. But each new list will undoubtedly contain fewer names. My fellow students and I do not have long to wait. With each passing day, the risk grows that our scholarships – and futures – will vanish.
This ordeal has revealed a deeply troubling lack of transparency in how the names are being included. Why were students who applied later than we did prioritised? Why are the applications of some expedited so quickly that they find their names on an evacuation list mere days after submitting the forms? Why do other applications – like mine – seem forgotten? Why am I, despite meeting every criterion, left behind without explanation?
Excerpted: ‘Stranded in Gaza, I risk losing my UK scholarship as evacuation stalls’.
Courtesy: Aljazeera.com
