Media Alert: WCK Reaches More Than One Million Meals Served in the DRC Amid Largest Ebola Outbreak
BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo — As the Democratic Republic of the Congo responds to the country’s largest Ebola outbreak, with more than 7,000 cases recorded as of September 12, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is supporting communities affected by conflict, displacement, and the ongoing health emergency. Since launching our response earlier this year, WCK and our local partners have served over one million meals to patients, healthcare workers, children, displaced families, and others across hospitals, shelters, community spaces, and schools.
Working alongside trusted local organizations, including Panzi Foundation and Good News for Africa (GNFA), WCK teams are preparing nourishing meals using locally sourced ingredients and recipes that reflect the communities we are serving. Local culinary teams prepare familiar dishes such as foufou, fish, meat, fresh vegetables, beans, and rice, helping preserve a connection to culture and tradition while providing essential support. Juan Camilo Jimenez, WCK Response Director, says:
“Surpassing one million meals in the DRC is a testament to what is possible when we work alongside trusted local partners, learning from one another and building on each other’s strengths. Together, we are not only serving meals, but strengthening systems that communities can rely on through extremely difficult circumstances.
“In the DRC, we’ve seen that a meal is about so much more than food. It can bring comfort, dignity, and a connection to familiar flavors and traditional recipes that have been part of communities for generations. Even in the most difficult moments, a meal can be a simple but powerful act of care. In the DRC, every meal is an opportunity to support a patient, nourish a child, and remind people that they are not alone or forgotten.”
As new Ebola cases emerge in the country, WCK is closely monitoring the situation alongside our partners. Ebola has not directly impacted WCK’s current operations or working areas, and teams are following prevention, hygiene, and food-safety measures while adapting to the evolving situation.
WCK’s work in the DRC demonstrates the importance of responding locally and building on the knowledge and capacity that already exists within communities. Beyond meal service, WCK supports and strengthens the local organizations and teams at the heart of the response, helping them maintain and expand their capacity to feed their communities.
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
