BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Humanitarian leaders have urged Malawians to break the culture of silence on global crises by equipping themselves with facts and challenging misinformation about the Gaza conflict.
Speaking at a media engagement in Blantyre on Tuesday,Sherifa Mia Malawi Country Manager for Gift of the Givers, said ignorance is one of the biggest obstacles to justice.
“Many Malawians don’t know what is happening in Gaza and assume it doesn’t affect us. But injustice anywhere affects everyone. Today it’s Gaza; tomorrow it could be Malawi,” she warned.
Mia noted that propaganda dominates many international narratives, making it essential for Malawians to question and verify information. She cited the killing of over 200 journalists in Gaza as evidence of attempts to silence the truth.
“We should not swallow propaganda blindly. We must educate ourselves so we can speak honestly when asked,” she said.
Gift of the Givers has operated in Gaza since 2002 and has seen the cost of the conflict first hand.
Mia recounted the killing of Ahmed, their Gaza office head, alongside his father and brother, and another staff member who lost more than 100 family members.
Palestine Solidarity Movement’s Asabuni Phiri challenged local media to provide balanced coverage rather than relying on foreign narratives.
“For too long, we’ve let others tell our stories. It’s time Malawian journalists rely on first-hand accounts and report the reality,” he said.
UK neurosurgeon and humanitarian Ismail Ughratdar described the crisis as “horrific” and called for factual, unbiased reporting.
“We’re not asking you to choose sides; we’re asking you to stand with the truth,” he said.
Speakers highlighted that the roots of the Gaza conflict date back to 1948, with the displacement of Palestinians, and warned that children remain the most vulnerable victims.
