Trainee Afghan Doctors Arrive in Edinburgh for Medical Degrees After Taliban Displacement

A group of 19 female medical students from Afghanistan has arrived in Edinburgh to continue their education, having been forced to abandon their studies due to the Taliban's resurgence. Their journey to the UK was facilitated by the Linda Norgrove Foundation, established by the parents of a Scottish charity worker who was killed during a failed rescue operation in 2010. The foundation's efforts spanned three years, overcoming numerous legal and bureaucratic challenges to secure the students' safe passage. The women, who had been living in fear and confinement since the Taliban regained control, faced significant obstacles in their quest for education. The foundation organized English language tests, university interviews via Skype, and coordinated their travel to Pakistan to apply for UK visas. This extensive process required around £60,000 in funding, highlighting the commitment to ensuring these students could pursue their medical degrees. Many of the women hail from Kabul, while others come from remote provinces such as Bamyan, Wardak, and Daykundi. One of the students expressed her pride and joy at reaching this milestone, reflecting on the "thousand days of suffering" endured to arrive in the UK. She remains hopeful for future changes in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of education and opportunity for her peers. The arrival of these talented young women marks a significant step towards reclaiming their futures, as they now have the chance to pursue a career in medicine, a prospect that was bleak under the current regime in Afghanistan.