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UBCO offering support for Iranian students after deadly plane crash

Jan 8, 2020 | 3:20 PM

Following the deadly plane crash in Iran that killed all 176 people on board, including 63 Canadians, the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus is offering support to its Iranian students.

There are 86 graduate-level students and 10 undergraduate students with Iranian citizenship at UBCO.

A statement from the university said administrators are working to ensure all Iranian students have the support they need during this difficult time.

“This is a challenging time for UBC’s Iranian students, and we know developments internationally and domestically in Iran are a cause of deep concern for them. Our international student advisors work closely with international students who are experiencing difficult circumstances, regardless of what those circumstances might be and where they are from,” UBC Okanagan said in a statement

Two former UBC students were reportedly among those killed on Ukranian International Airlines flight 752 which took off at the Iranian capital’s main airport.

Details are still developing, but Zeynab Asadi Lari, a biology major and Mohammadhossein Asadi Lari, an honours science major in cellular, anatomical and physiological sciences were reportedly on board, according to university officials in Vancouver.

UBC President Santa Ono released a statement Wednesday expressing his condolences to the students.

“I am profoundly saddened to confirm that two former UBC students are among those reportedly killed in the Ukranian International Airlines Flight 752 tragedy in Iran,” Ono said.

The deadly crash happened Wednesday morning, mere hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. soldiers.

Ukrainian and Iranian officials earlier told the media they suspected a mechanical issue brought down the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, but speculation is mounting after Ukrainian embassy officials distanced from earlier claims. Now the official position is to offer no comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

-With files from The Canadian Press

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