Yes, this unfortunately happens. Yet when it is the media, who do we blame? The greed of the media? The shortsightedness of the owners of the media? You tell me, I do not know. There is too much pro over and anti the other and frankly I am a little sick of it. Today I saw something that no western media seems to give. I am in this case referring to an organisation called KSrelief. I got the news from Arab News. The fact that it is Arab News is not the striking part, the striking part is that as far as I could see Arab News is the ONLY one giving its readers the news. You see King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) was established by King Salman bin Abdulaziz in 2015. As such it has been active for 10 years. As I read, the center was established in the framework of the Saudi’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of those in need worldwide.
As far as the media goes, they should be ashamed of themselves. There is no sweet talking their massive shortsightedness. The setting that this organization doesn’t get global coverage is on us all. We might claim to be ‘interested’ in relief settings, but that is as I see it, at present a false claim. I had heard the name before, I think I even covered it once. And as far as I can see, I have covered it more often than most of the western media, and that is a large claim.
In this case Arab News gives us ‘KSrelief extends support to 4 nations in need’, with the added text that “The agency recently distributed 1,600 food baskets to displaced people in the South Jazirah district of Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State, benefiting 9,709 families.”, it also gives us “KSrelief also distributed 1,250 food baskets to displaced families in the Shikan locality, North Kordofan State, benefiting 8,092 individuals”, as well as “In Chad, the agency delivered 125 tonnes of dates as a gift from Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Chad’s Minister of Social Action, Solidarity and Humanitarian Affairs Zara Issa, in N’Djamena.” And last but not least “In the Syrian Arab Republic, KSrelief distributed 10,382 cartons of dates in the Rif Dimashq Governorate, benefiting thousands of families.” Four places that is receiving aid from KSrelief. But the added bonus is that we are now given that “Recently, KSrelief signed a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage to establish four water desalination stations in Khan Younis and the Central Governorate of the Gaza Strip. The project includes four desalination stations with a production capacity of 10–12 cubic meters per day, installation works, and four solar power systems with 7 kilowatt capacity each. It is expected to benefit 300,500 individuals.” As I personally see it, the lack of reporting on this feat is a little too hypocritical to behold and as I see it, pretty much the bulk of western media is complicit in this oversight. As such, we can now see around 40,000 liters a day of water going into the region and the solar power systems might not be enough, but it is a start. I personally fail to see how 40,000 liters a day benefits 300,000 individuals, as I tend to consume close to 3-4 liters a day, but that is me. KSrelief is getting the works done all over the middle east and Africa. Additional, I see no mention of the KSrelief efforts by Unicef, who gave us an article a week ago, no mention at all. Seems a little too hypocritical to my taste. I reckon that anyone aiding assistance in that region should be mentioned, does it not?
So as we consider how great we are, consider how we all fall short on voicing the efforts of those who have an impact and it is clear that KSrelief does just that. So what gives? Is the media suddenly incapable of making mention of matters that does not fuel their digital dollar needs? Who is the stakeholder on that effort? Because as I see it, the lack of mention does grant the people the right to complain that they are not informed. Yes, the people should know, or is that line ‘the people have a right to know’ merely used to invade the privacy of some?
The lack of exposure to this setting is making me wonder what the media is all about nowadays. Just to offend sitting presidents? Just to make sure that the people look in one particular direction? You tell me, I honestly don’t know at present.
Try to have a great day today.
Lawrence van Rijn - Law Lord to be 