Beirut, Lebanon – As violence intensifies across Lebanon, World Central Kitchen (WCK) has reached a critical milestone: more than 1 million meals served since March 2 to families impacted by the conflict. At the same time, teams on the ground warn that a broader crisis is rapidly unfolding as displacement surges and infrastructure collapses.

WCK is currently serving more than 25,000 hot meals daily, reaching internally displaced families across the country—from northern areas like Jbeil, to the Bekaa Valley and Baalbek, to Beirut and Mount Lebanon, and south to Saida. Meals are delivered directly to shelters, many of them overcrowded schools or improvised spaces, as well as to families living in tents and on the streets after fleeing their homes.

WCK’s priority is simple: wherever a shelter opens, we move as close as possible so we can get hot, nourishing meals to people immediately. Families are arriving with nothing, and for many, this is the only warm meal they will have all day.

Today’s escalation has dramatically worsened conditions on the ground, with widespread strikes reported in densely populated areas, triggering new waves of displacement and overwhelming already strained shelters. WCK teams described chaotic scenes, with damaged infrastructure, limited access to electricity and water, and families forced to flee with little notice.

Chef Aline Kamakian, who is leading WCK’s response in Lebanon, says:

“What we saw today reminded me of the Beirut explosion in 2020—everything around us was destroyed, people were rushing to hospitals, and there was chaos, fire, and dust everywhere. It felt like an apocalypse all over again.”

“The humanitarian impact is deepening by the hour. Shelters are filled primarily with families—many with children—living in extremely difficult conditions, often sharing small spaces with multiple households and lacking basic necessities. At the same time, rising food prices and disrupted supply chains are putting additional pressure on communities nationwide.”

“My main concern is that the crisis extends beyond immediate displacement. Agricultural production has been severely affected, with farmers forced to abandon land, key infrastructure damaged, and food supply routes disrupted. Staple items have already surged in price, raising concerns about widespread food insecurity in the weeks ahead.”

“In those conditions, reaching one million meals is a bittersweet milestone—one million meals means we’ve done something meaningful, but it also means the need is overwhelming and still growing. I feel both proud and heartbroken. Proud of the one million meals we’ve served, but heartbroken knowing how many people are still in need.”

Despite ongoing security challenges, WCK continues to adapt operations in real time—relocating kitchens, partnering with local chefs and volunteers, and coordinating closely with municipalities to reach people most in need. The organization remains ready to scale its response as conditions evolve.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:  

Roberta Alves, Director of Media Relations at ralves@worldcentralkitchen.org or +1 202.400.7483
Our full media team is reachable at press@wck.org