We know the situation in Gaza has left our World Central Kitchen (WCK) community with a lot of questions. We want to try to give you all the insight we can from our on-the-ground operations. These answers reflect the most accurate information available about our work in Gaza as of March 6, 2026. To date, our teams have served more than 295 million meals to families in need. The situation on the ground changes rapidly—access, needs, and operations can shift day to day. We are committed to sharing clear, up-to-date details about our response. You can always find more about our operating status and recent work here.

Is World Central Kitchen actually getting food into Gaza?

Though the conflict in Iran and the broader region has threatened border crossings into Gaza, WCK is currently receiving just enough trucks to sustain our efforts of serving hundreds of thousands of hot meals daily. But as our founder José Andrés has said: “Every day we need more trucks and more food so we can keep feeding hungry families. We need a constant flow of food and fuel. Every day. This is the lifeline for Gaza and it needs to stay open.”

Food in Gaza depends entirely on daily shipments—what arrives today feeds people tomorrow. Until recently, we were operating with a seven-day working inventory, which had already been reduced to just two days due to inconsistent truck flow from Egypt, the largest share of our supply chain. When borders close, the impact is immediate: kitchen supplies are depleted, and families are left waiting for meals that are no longer there.

When crossings are open and supply routes are functioning, WCK is able to reliably bring food and essential supplies into Gaza, allowing our teams and partners to cook and distribute meals consistently to families and medical facilities. Our kitchens, staff, and local partners remain ready. But this is not a sustainable model. Gaza requires consistent, predictable humanitarian access at scale.

What does WCK need to constantly serve meals in Gaza?

Unrestricted humanitarian access is essential to meeting urgent needs at scale. When aid organizations can move food, supplies, and staff without unnecessary limitations, we are able to respond faster, reach more families, and plan operations that are reliable and sustained over time. Predictable access saves lives.

What is the current level of need in Gaza?

Though improved relative to the situation prior to the current ceasefire, the level of need in Gaza remains acute. Families are facing severe challenges to food and nutrition security, displacement, and limited access to basic services after months of crisis. 

How has the ceasefire in Gaza affected WCK’s work in Gaza?

The ceasefire in Gaza allowed WCK to deliver aid more consistently and with far fewer interruptions than in previous months. Reduced insecurity has made it possible for our teams and partners to move food, supplies, and staff more reliably, ensuring families can depend on daily meals. Importantly, the ceasefire also enabled the expansion of our kitchen network, including into parts of northern Gaza that were previously too dangerous to access, increasing our overall reach.

So now you’re able to cook and serve meals like before the 2025 restrictions?

Over the past months, we steadily scaled up from 90,000 to around one million meals daily, more than we were serving before being forced to briefly halt operations in 2025. This was possible thanks to the tireless efforts of teams at our Field Kitchens, our network of Community Kitchens, and restaurant partners. Combining different models and approaches to distributing meals, all grounded in true community-led approaches, has been critical for us to get meals to the people who need them. We have now reduced somewhat from this peak of one million and are focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

How has the peace process affected WCK’s work?

Progress toward peace in Gaza does not mean an immediate reduction in need. On the contrary, prior to this latest closure, WCK was cooking more meals than ever in Gaza as we await further phases of the peace process and look forward to our teams remaining deeply committed to supporting families as they begin the long road to recovery. The need for reliable food support, local employment, and community-led solutions remains critical. 

What are the biggest challenges your teams face?

The environment in Gaza remains unpredictable. Even before the recent escalation of regional conflict, truck flow from Egypt had decreased, meaning our kitchens were receiving fewer supplies than needed to maintain operations at full capacity.  In addition, fuel supply interruptions that began in late December 2025 pose a serious risk to the preparation and distribution of hot meals and bread. Fuel is essential for cooking, bakeries, water systems, and transportation. To mitigate this risk, WCK is optimizing fuel use across our operations and securing diverse fuel purveyors to help sustain our response.

What is the impact of being able to cook on the WCK team?

In the words of our Response Director for Gaza, Wadhah Hubaishi: “Every meal represents a family that can breathe a little easier. The determination and strength our teams and partners show every single day to reach that goal is extraordinary, and it reflects the spirit of WCK: showing up, together, when it matters most.”