We're devastated to hear of the recent earthquake which struck Herat province in Afghanistan on Saturday morning. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake is one of the deadliest to hit the country in the past two decades, with the death toll rising to over 1,000 and injuring many more. Read the latest via the BBC here.
Many Afghan students study at UCL and have family friends in the affected areas. We’re deeply concerned for the wellbeing and safety of our students and their families in the affected areas of Afghanistan.
We encourage students affected by this tragedy to reach out to the support services and networks available across UCL, and seek out the Afghan community at UCL through the Afghan Society page or on their instagram.
Important updates and links to further support:
- You can contact the Support Team for Students affected by War, Conflict and Disaster. The team provides emotional and practical support to students affected by events in their home countries by offering sessions of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
- If you need to, you should access UCL's 24/7 Student Support Line for support with your mental health and wellbeing, and additional support services around faith and belief at UCL, including quiet spaces for prayer and advice from the Interfaith team.
- We know that it may be difficult to focus on your studies at this time. If you are struggling with academic work, you should first talk to your tutor, who will be able to offer support and advice. Departments can also provide Extenuating Circumstances or Academic Adjustments to support any student who experiences sudden, unexpected difficulties that may affect their performance at assessment.
- If you face financial difficulty due to the conflict, we encourage you to speak with one of our Student Funding Advisers. Students who are in unexpected financial need with their living costs can also apply to the Financial Assistance Fund.