Chefs For Lebanon
In Lebanon, sustained hostilities along the Israel–Lebanon border have displaced more than 100,000 people, with a sharp escalation in Israeli attacks since September 2024 forcing an additional 92,000 to flee their homes. The crisis has created severe food insecurity across the country. In response, WCK and our partners are serving tens of thousands of hot meals daily, prioritizing comforting and hearty Lebanese flavors.
In early June 2025, Israeli airstrikes devastated southern Beirut, destroying and damaging several residential buildings. WCK, led by Chef Corps member Aline Kamakian, rapidly mobilized to scale up operations by 2,000 meals per day to support displaced families.
Meanwhile, natural disasters have compounded hardship: severe flooding in northern Lebanon last winter destroyed homes and roads. WCK acted swiftly with local partners to deliver aid to affected communities, underscoring its role as a critical responder amid both conflict and climate-related emergencies.
WCK scaling up efforts in Lebanon
World Central Kitchen is ramping up our meal production in Lebanon to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and mounting civilian casualties as Israel targets Hezbollah in Lebanon, widening the war in the region. Led by Chef Corps member Aline Kamakian, our team is working tirelessly to meet the urgent needs of families affected.
Sobhiye
Sobhiye and her daughters fled from southern Lebanon in 2023 and they have been receiving WCK hot meals in their shelter. Sobhiye thanked our teams for providing the meals to her family, she said it was as if we had lifted a burden from their shoulders.
Chef Layth
Chef Layth has been working with WCK in Lebanon since October 2023. He cooks not just to serve food, but to prove that even in the hardest moments, kindness creates moments of peace.
Maro
Maro began working with WCK more recently, but has already become known as the mother in the kitchen. Her warmth, kindness, and love of cooking are truly infectious.
Chefs For Israel
In Israel, tens of thousands of Israeli civilians have been forced to evacuate due to the escalating conflict along the northern border. Thousands of vulnerable individuals—mostly seniors and disabled people—remain unable to flee due to medical limitations and are caught in the border crossfire. WCK is providing these groups with nutritious hot meals, along with dry and fresh food supplies. Many have been confined to their homes and shelters for months, as missiles continue to hit the region multiple times a day. Our efforts ensure they receive essential nourishment and a touch of humanity during this ongoing crisis. As Israeli hostages returned home, we delivered meals to the hospitals where they received checkups and were reunited with their families.
In mid June 2025, the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran triggered widespread air raid sirens and forced thousands into shelters. WCK responded immediately through local partners to provide meals to impacted families.
Meet Nadiia
Nadiia fled her native Ukraine in search of safety following Russia’s full scale invasion. Now in Israel, she works at a WCK restaurant partner that provided meals to families impacted by conflict in June of 2025. “Even when you don’t have much, it’s important to find ways to give—good deeds matter,” she said.
Nourishing meals for evacuees
Hotels in Tel Aviv housed evacuees from areas affected by the Israel-Iran hostilities. Working with restaurant partners, WCK ensured nourishing meals reached people in need, including the most vulnerable populations like children and seniors.
We didn’t understand the scale of the disaster until we arrived with the food and saw the people. WCK handles the logistics—everything runs smoothly, 24/7. This organization is doing something marvelous.
Oren
Owner, Delimark Restuarant
Assaf
“I’m very proud to know that there are people that keep the light on at this moment of darkness.”
Maya
“When a crisis happens, food Is like a hug. That’s why it is essential to cook healthy, wholesome food. Working for the WCK gives strength and validation to our efforts.”
Rachel
“Without WCK, we couldn’t prepare food for thousands of people. It is so incredible that these people can receive warm food and know that people are caring for them.”
Help us provide food to families in need.
Latest from the ground
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Shadi receives meals from a WCK Community Kitchen. She adds additional spices and mashes the balila—refining the recipe to the way she prepared it at home before the conflict. “Balila is one of the delicious traditional dishes we love. We always miss it in the difficult circumstances we live in. It is cherished by both children and adults, and it gives us a sense of comfort and warmth.”
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Ahmed and Saeed make the journey to a WCK community kitchen in Khan Younis every day. Ahmed shares, “We walk a long distance, but that’s not what matters—what matters is bringing food home to our family.” Saeed adds with pride, “We distribute it to our neighbors as well because we know that many families can’t get food on their own.”
