A month after seven of its team members were tragically killed by Israeli drones, World Central Kitchen (WCK), an aid organization based in the US, has resumed operations within Gaza. With a predominant team of Palestinian volunteers and employees, the NGO has resumed its operations initiating with food distribution to battle the prevalent hunger in the region, given that current aid supply to the region is grossly inadequate for the sustenance of 2.3 million Palestinians, as cited by many aid organizations.
Before halting activities, WCK claims to have spread over 43 million meals across Gaza and accounted for a staggering 62% of all international aid. Erin Gore, the CEO propounded, “Our modus operandi will continue focusing on maximising food supply into Gaza, including its northern territories, by any viable means – land, sky, or water.”
In its plan to resume operations, WCK revealed it has 276 trucks laden with ingredients enough for eight million meals, positioned to enter Gaza via the Egyptian transit route into Rafah, and intends to dispatch aid trucks from Jordan. They are also examining the feasible option of aid delivery through the maritime passage from Cyprus to Gaza, a route which was established in March by WCK, in collaboration with NGO Open Arms from Spain and food donations from the United Arab Emirates. The NGO also mentioned the addition of a third high-production kitchen to the existing 68, including two other high-production facilities already functioning in Gaza.
Since October, aid supply to Gaza by the group has comprised of land, air and sea routes that fed their system of community kitchens. It was during one such delivery exercise from Cyprus, that the NGO’s three-vehicle convoy was hit by Israeli drones.
Meanwhile, a United Arab Emirates sponsored joint mission ship called Jennifer, delivering aid alongside WCK and Open Arms unloaded 400 tonnes of aid at the Israeli port of Ashdod, anticipated to be transmitted onto lorries directed at Gaza. The American Near East Refugee Aid was also part of this venture, having dispensed 24 million meals within Gaza since mid-October.
In a bid to enhance aid supply, Britain dispatched support ship RFA Cardigan Bay from Cyprus to provide accommodation to hundreds of US soldiers and sailors employed in constructing a floating pier off the Gaza shore. A proposal is also under consideration, for British troops to aid in driving along a floating pathway from the pier to the coast.
At the World Economic Forum gathering in Saudi Arabia, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, emphasised the ongoing need for additional aid in Gaza. He pointed out the necessity of enhancing the procedures of deconfliction with assistance providers in Israel. Blinken stressed that a highly efficient and safer clearance of aid consignments could be achieved through effective coordination with the Israeli military.