WCK opens third Gaza Field Kitchen
World Central Kitchen has served more than 46 million meals in Gaza since responding to the conflict in the region. Our teams established two field kitchens and a wide network of community kitchens early on that allow us to cook hundreds of thousands of meals daily. Now, WCK has opened a new Field Kitchen in central Gaza to better meet the needs of communities devastated by war.
The third Field Kitchen is located in Al-Mawasi and will complement the efforts of our Rafah and Deir al-Balah kitchens where hundreds of Palestinians cook nourishing meals and bake fresh bread each day for people displaced by the conflict. The new kitchen has been named Damian’s Kitchen, after one of the seven team members killed by the IDF on April 1.
Damian was an incredible team member, helping during WCK responses around the world.
Damian was an integral part of our Gaza team, helping lead construction and maintenance of our kitchens. His personal mantra was, “No Problems, Only Solutions.” Now, that saying has come to life in the form of a brand new, fully equipped Field Kitchen. Damian’s Kitchen will provide desperately needed food to the hundreds of thousands of people who are fleeing north from Rafah in search of safety.
At the same time, more than sixty WCK-supported and Palestinian-led community kitchens are working tirelessly to cook for their neighbors. “What we do is the most important thing in the world, because people are hungry and we’re helping,” said Sayyed, a team member in one of WCK’s community kitchens. “Men and women are taking this food for their children and to their families.”
What we do is the most important thing in the world, because people are hungry and we’re helping.
Sayyed
Community Kitchen staff
As Israeli military operations continue to block humanitarian aid from crossing Gaza’s borders, the situation only continues to worsen for families trapped in a war zone.
On April 1, seven WCK team members were killed in a targeted attack, their convoy was struck by IDF drones three separate times over the distance of a mile. This was despite the fact that their movements were in full compliance with Israeli authorities, who were aware of their itinerary, route, and humanitarian mission. WCK continues to call for an independent investigation into what happened to our seven heroes.
WCK paused operations in Gaza for a month to grieve the immense loss of such incredible people and understand how to move forward from it. “In the worst moments, the best of humanity shows up,” said José Andrés, WCK’s founder, during the memorial service in April. “They were the best of humanity.” Now, the pause is over, and we are continuing to serve meals with the same energy and integrity of Damian, Saif, Zomi, Jim, James, Jacob, and John.
