To Iranian Students Facing The Impact of Conflict: You Are Not Alone

 To Iranian Students Facing The Impact of Conflict: You Are Not Alone

The GSA understands that Iranian students are facing challenges as the bombardment of civilian infrastructure, housing, apartment complexes and urban areas continues. Students are experiencing the inability to reach out to loved ones due to telecommunications being heavily impacted. We urge for a diplomatic solution that can ensure that civilian casualties are minimized. The global impacts of colonialism rarely consider that sanctions and missiles impact the socioeconomic aspects essential to everyday people, not those who influence politics or regime structure. Those with power and influence are insulated from the aspects of displacement and the aftermath of bombings. 

Too often it is civilians including infants, children, persons with disabilities, elders, and youth face the true impact of sociopolitical issues without impunity. Many are left without a place to call home, with health concerns that cannot be addressed due to damaged infrastructure or are facing the loss of family members. With growing xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments expressed, the options to find a safe place to immigrate are increasingly challenging and limited. Civilians are sadly yet again facing impossible choices at the expense of an ongoing project that does not follow the agreed upon principles of international law. Many are not in a state or do not have the possibility of being able to evacuate altogether.

We understand that during times of crisis students are in need of support services. As graduate students through your GSA Greenshield coverage, you have access to five hours of virtual counselling services through Inkblot. Counselling, psychologist and social worker services are also available for your Greenshield coverage. There is also counselling service available through Carleton University that include individual sessions. 

Mental Health Resources Ottawa

The GSA would like Iranian students to know that they are not alone and that there are resources available to support you during these unprecedented times. 

Your GSA Executive Team