BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)- Gift of the Givers Malawi Country Manager Sherifa Mia has called on Malawians to educate themselves on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and stand in solidarity with victims of oppression worldwide.
Speaking during a media engagement held in Blantyre, Mia said many Malawians tend to ignore international crises believing they are too far removed from local realities.
He warned that global injustices have ripple effects and that Malawi is not immune to similar tragedies.
“Today it’s happening in Gaza; tomorrow it could be somewhere else, and one day, God forbid, it could be us,” Mia said.
“Throughout history, we have seen such tragedies. During World War II, Hitler killed so many Jews and today those who were once victims are killing others for land. We must stand for truth and for those who are being slaughtered,” he added.
Mia revealed that Gift of the Givers has been operating in Gaza since 2002, and many of its staff members have been directly affected by the conflict.
He narrated the killing of Ahmed, the head of their Gaza office who was shot dead alongside his father and brother in November 2023.
Mia also shared the harrowing experience of a colleague based in Johannesburg whose entire family over 100 members was wiped out.
According to Mia, the situation in Gaza has been catastrophic for civilians and journalists alike with over 200 reporters killed for trying to tell the world what is happening on the ground.
He said the perception that the war is religious is misleading, citing the bombing of one of the world’s oldest churches in Gaza.
“This is not just about religion; it’s about human lives,” she said. “If we cannot help materially, we can at least pray and educate ourselves. We should not just swallow propaganda from Western media. We must be able to speak truthfully when asked about global issues.”
Palestine Solidarity Movement National Coordinator Asabuni Phiri echoed Mia’s sentiments urging local journalists to report fairly and critically.
“In the absence of water, a lizard declares itself a crocodile. For years, we’ve relied on second-hand narratives.But today we brought someone who has just returned from Gaza with first-hand information. We expect journalists to write what is real,” he said.
Phiri also challenged Malawi’s media to go beyond government-aligned narratives and give Malawians balanced information.
Ismail Ughratdar, UK Neurosurgeon and Humanitarian described the humanitarian crisis as “horrific and unimaginable,” calling for unbiased reporting rooted in truth and evidence.
“We are not asking you to take sides; we are asking you to uphold the principles of journalism presenting evidence and truth,” he said.
“The public deserves to be educated about what is really happening,”he added.
The speakers emphasized that the ongoing genocide traces its roots back to 1948, when the conflict over Palestinian land and displacement began, and continues to escalate, leaving civilians especially children bearing the heaviest brunt.
