Today, the University of Edinburgh is gearing up to welcome the first of many Palestinian academics to the UK, thanks to the efforts of a UK-based charity. The Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara) recently announced that the first two refugee academics from the Israel-Hamas war have safely arrived in the UK and will soon start fellowships at the University of Edinburgh and Cambridge University.
One of the rescued academics is set to begin a PhD program in management at the University of Edinburgh. She was able to make the journey to Scotland with her partner and four children, thanks to the support from Cara and the university. Additionally, Cara revealed that 13 more academics are scheduled to follow suit, with some heading to the University of Glasgow.
Due to the dangerous situation in Gaza following the destruction of their homes and workplaces, Palestinian academics have been seeking ways to escape. One of the academics, Mr. F H, who will soon arrive in the UK, had to relocate his family multiple times in Gaza before finally managing to escape via the Rafah crossing and reaching out to Cara for assistance.
Cara, which has a history of rescuing academics at risk, has seen a surge in demand for its services in recent years. The charity was initially established in the 1930s to assist German academics fleeing Nazi persecution. Since then, they have helped academics from various conflict zones like Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria. The recent conflict in Gaza has created a perilous environment for academics, with reports indicating that 80% of schools and universities in Gaza have been destroyed, resulting in the deaths of at least 105 Palestinian academics.
The University of Edinburgh is part of a consortium of UK universities providing support for refugee academics. Over the years, several Palestinian Fellows have successfully completed placements in UK universities, with some returning to Gaza shortly before the outbreak of the recent conflict.
The ongoing war in Gaza has led to a sharp increase in demand for Cara’s assistance, with a 400% rise in requests since 2021. Palestinians constitute the largest group of academics in urgent need of help. To address this growing need, Cara relies on fundraising efforts and contributions from universities to rescue and resettle academics and their families.
In response to the heightened demand, Cara has embarked on a fundraising tour of UK universities to raise additional funds. The charity is facing unprecedented challenges in relocating threatened scholars, and securing more financial support is crucial to continue their life-saving work.
As Cara continues its mission to support at-risk academics, the hope remains that these scholars will one day be able to return to their homelands in safer times and contribute to rebuilding their shattered societies.