Over the past several weeks, conflict has intensified in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, causing refugees to flee into Armenia after Azerbaijan claimed control of the area. Over 100,000 refugees now face an acute humanitarian crisis in Southern Armenia. War and conflict are devastating and leave deep scars. We continue to hope for lasting peace.

This conflict, along with other incidents of intolerance and aggression around the world, is alarming and disturbing. UC Davis is committed to supporting our campus community during these challenging times.

To those who may be impacted by these recent events, we encourage you to use campus resources to take care of yourself as you cope. We urge our entire community to reach out to and support one another with compassion.

Students

• Make an appointment to speak to someone through Student Health and Counseling Services, which provides services to all registered students in the U.S.
• Students with ties to the area may wish to contact Affaf Waseem, director for Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian Student Resources in the Student Community Center, at awaseem@ucdavis.edu, with any questions or concerns or if you need someone to talk to.

Scholars, faculty and staff

• The Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential and cost-free assessment, counseling, consultation and referral services to all UC Davis and UC Davis Health faculty, staff and families. For scholars located in Davis, please call (530) 752-2727 for an appointment. For scholars in Sacramento, please call (916) 734-2727 for an appointment.

UC Davis created a Global Community Emergency Fund to provide direct support to members of the UC Davis community, including visiting scholars, students, faculty and their families, who have urgent and immediate financial needs related to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and other circumstances beyond their control. For more information, please contact Beth Greenwood, associate dean for international programs, director of LL.M. programs and lecturer of law.

Additionally, we encourage our contacts in the affected areas to sign up for a virtual backpack through Article 26 Backpack, a joint project between Global Affairs and Human Rights Studies that offers a secure way to store educational and other important documents. This cloud-based solution is free to all and administered and protected by the University of California. 

Sincerely,

Joanna Regulska
Vice Provost and Dean - Global Affairs

Keith David Watenpaugh
Professor and Director - Human Rights Studies