Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organization founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, announced that the organization will resume its operations in Gaza following an Israeli strike that killed seven of its workers earlier this month. WCK temporarily halted its activities in Gaza after the strike on April 1 but will now focus on providing food aid to those in need, including in northern Gaza.
Despite the tragic attack on its workers, WCK is moving forward with plans to deliver aid by sending trucks through various entry points, including the Rafah crossing and Jordan. Additionally, the organization is exploring ways to deliver aid through the Ashdod Port, showing its commitment to reaching as many people in need as possible.
Gore stated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, prompting the organization to restart its operation with renewed dedication. With a history of distributing over 43 million meals, WCK is determined to continue its life-saving mission in Gaza and provide millions more meals to those affected by the conflict.
Following an apology from Israel for the attack that claimed the lives of their aid workers, WCK stated that the Israel Defense Forces have amended their rules of operations. While the organization acknowledges these steps, it continues to advocate for an impartial and international investigation into the incident to prevent future tragedies and protect NGO workers operating in conflict zones.
Gore assured that WCK will return to providing aid soon while remaining committed to its mission of providing food aid to those in need while advocating for better protections for humanitarian workers in conflict zones.