World Central Kitchen is resuming its aid operations in Gaza on Monday, four weeks after halting them following an Israeli airstrike that killed seven of its workers. The interruption of aid had left many displaced Gazans on the brink of starvation, as the flow of food into the war-torn area was crucial for their survival. Prior to the airstrike, the charity had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza.
The attack led many organizations to withdraw their aid workers from the region and call for an investigation into the deaths of civilians who were providing aid. President Joe Biden criticized Israel for not doing enough to protect civilians in the aftermath of the tragedy. Now, World Central Kitchen is preparing to return to Gaza with a focus on feeding as many people as possible.
Erin Gore, World Central Kitchen’s CEO, emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and announced plans to resume operations with a focus on feeding as many people as possible. The charity has almost 300 trucks filled with millions of meals ready to enter through the Rafah Crossing, with additional aid coming from Jordan. They also plan to open a new high-production kitchen named “Damian’s Kitchen” in honor of a skilled kitchen builder who was killed in the April 1 attack.
Facing a difficult decision, World Central Kitchen ultimately chose to continue its mission of providing food to those in need, even in the face of intimidation and violence against aid workers and civilians. The charity aims to show up during tough times and keep feeding those who depend on their assistance for survival.