The short story ”A Storm Gathering” is overall about cultural clashes and diversities and, in continuation of that, misunderstood aid and external versus internal contrasts.
Malik is a delegated aid worker who has got the responsibility of an area in Sudan where he has to distribute food and medicine to the villages. But he has trouble in doing so because the supplies are either delayed, missing, inadequate or ruined.
Then a foreign female doctor from the aid organization shows up and Malik is relieved. But she is only there to inspect and hasn’t got any supplies with her. In good spirit she decides to drive out to a village to help the chief who is ill. The next day the chief is dead and Malik can feel that the villagers blame the doctor.
Then a sudden violent sandstorm stops all frustration that has been build up and Malik and the doctor are safe – for now.
Word count: 155
Characterization of Malik
Malik is a well-educated aid worker and is a good man. He has to distribute food and medicine to villages in his area and with that responsibility a lot of problems and disappointments builds up for him and the people of the town. It is one long battle to help the people “It had been a difficult week for the little town.” (p. 7, l. 7.). He really wants to help, is embarrassed that he can’t do more and does his best but still the villagers blame him as a representative for all that is foreign. He is afraid of them and almost only thinking of the affect on himself: “A delivery, he could make a delivery.” (p. 8, l. 42).
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