After taking a pause in its aid operations in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that killed seven of its workers on April 1, World Central Kitchen is set to resume its relief efforts on Monday. The charity had been providing crucial food aid to the war-torn strip, where many displaced Gazans are on the brink of starvation. Prior to the airstrike, World Central Kitchen had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza.
Following the attack, many organizations withdrew their aid workers from the area and called for an investigation into the civilian deaths. The Israel Defense Forces took responsibility for the airstrike and stated they are looking into how it occurred. President Joe Biden criticized Israel for not doing enough to protect civilians in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Despite these challenges, World Central Kitchen has decided to return to Gaza with renewed energy and focus on feeding as many people as possible. The charity has a fleet of nearly 300 trucks with meals ready to enter through the Rafah Crossing, with more supplies coming in from Jordan. They also plan to establish a new high-production kitchen in the region named “Damian’s Kitchen” in memory of one of their workers who was killed in the attack.
World Central Kitchen acknowledges the risks involved in continuing their operations but believes that providing food during tough times is essential. They are committed to maintaining their mission of offering aid to those in need, even in the face of danger and adversity.