Since October, World Central Kitchen has been calling for more access points to Gaza to open for humanitarian aid. We have served more than 35 millions meals, dispatched more than 1,400 trucks across the Rafah Crossing, and opened more than 60 community kitchens across Gaza. With Jordan, we have provided food on their land convoys and participated in airdrops. We will be providing food for the daily airdrops the Jordanians plan for every day during this sacred month of Ramadan.

We are ready to do so much more. 

We have a boat filled with nearly 200 tons of food and a team in Cyprus ready to make the first maritime delivery of aid to Gaza. We have another 500 tons of food in Cyprus and more ships to set sail. Our goal is to establish a maritime highway of boats and barges stocked with millions of meals continuously headed towards Gaza. 

WCK is working closely with the United Arab Emirates and Jordan to make the maritime option possible—it is crucial to stave off the hunger catastrophe that is unfolding in Gaza. We also appreciate the help of the government of Cyprus.

WCK has always believed the best plan is the plan to adapt, learn, and improve. The greatest failure right now would be failing to try. Millions of people are suffering and food is the difference between life or death for many.

This is the most politically complex environment WCK has operated in. Since the boat set sail in the middle of February from Spain to Cyprus we have been navigating the best we can. In one month we have established a food supply chain—already securing hundreds of tons of food and multiple vessels. We are ready.

It is this moment that reminds us of WCK’s origin story. We started feeding after disasters and crises because of bureaucracy’s failures, inefficiencies, and prioritizing risk aversion over human lives. 

We are following the headlines as countries commit to joining an effort to get aid to Gaza by sea. We are aware that many view us as a “pilot” to guide their separate, multi-national initiative. 

We will also be following closely to see what actions follow. This is not the time to make hollow promises. Let’s have less diplomacy by meetings and more diplomacy by action.

We hope governments follow WCK’s lead to provide the humanitarian aid that is so desperately needed today—not yesterday and not in a month.

José Andrés, Founder and Erin Gore, Chief Executive Officer