Newsroom
World Central Kitchen delivered nearly 200 tons of food to communities in northern Gaza on Tuesday, marking the first maritime aid shipment from Cyprus, according to an NGO statement.
The food, reaching families at risk of hunger, arrived with the initial humanitarian cargo to approach Gaza's shores in almost two decades. Alongside local and international partners, WCK has provided over 39 million meals—both dry and fresh—to Palestinians in need.
"Today's delivery of rice, flour, pulses, vegetables, and proteins to families in the north, where access to aid is severely limited, demonstrates that desperately needed food can be delivered by sea. In addition to the food brought by the Open Arms vessel, today's convoy to the north also transported ready-to-eat meals," it stated.
For months, WCK teams have been tirelessly working to open this sea route to Gaza, sourcing and loading food onto ships in Cyprus.
It is noted that they constructed their own dock in Gaza, using rubble from bombed buildings for the safe unloading of the cargo.
"WCK will ultimately be able to provide vast quantities of food daily along Gaza's shores," said José Andrés, WCK's founder. He added that NGO teams are currently preparing to dispatch the second maritime mission, including food and heavy machinery to expedite the unloading process.
Jose Andres called for a ceasefire and the opening of as many land routes as possible to ensure Palestinians receive the meals and water they need.
It is added that so far, the NGO has sent over 1,500 truckloads, but many more are needed to meet the urgent needs of communities across Gaza.
[With information sourced from CNA]
