World Central Kitchen announced plans to resume aid operations in Gaza starting on Monday after temporarily halting relief efforts following the deaths of seven of its workers in an Israeli airstrike on April 1. The charity had distributed over 43 million meals in Gaza before the attack disrupted the flow of food. Many displaced Gazans are now at risk of starvation due to the interruption in aid.
In response to the killings, several organizations pulled their aid workers from the area and called for an investigation into the deaths of civilians providing assistance. The Israel Defense Forces took responsibility for the attack and pledged to investigate the incident. President Joe Biden criticized Israel for not doing enough to protect civilians following the tragedy.
Despite the risks, World Central Kitchen is determined to continue its mission of providing food to those in need. The organization is ready to deliver millions of meals to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing and from Jordan. A new high-production kitchen named “Damian’s Kitchen” will be established in memory of one of the workers who lost his life in the attack.
The decision to resume operations was a difficult one, considering the safety risks faced by aid workers. However, World Central Kitchen believes that providing food to those in need during a humanitarian crisis is essential. With a renewed focus on feeding as many people as possible, the organization is committed to helping alleviate hunger in the war-torn region.