‘We can do so much more’: Food aid chief aims to step up relief effort in Gaza as ceasefire delivers hope

Erin Gore, chief executive of World Central Kitchen, tells The National of challenges of operating in a war zone after UAE award win

Palestinians receive meals cooked by World Central Kitchen at a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza. Photo: Reuters

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The head of a global food relief organisation honoured by the UAE for delivering a crucial lifeline to millions of Palestinians in the Gaza strip says they are "eager to do more" as a ceasefire with Israel holds firm.

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) was announced on Friday as one of three winners of the annual Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, for its remarkable work serving on the front lines to feed communities in areas devastated by disasters and deadly conflicts.

Since being founded in 2010 by Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, WCK has delivered more than 300 million meals to communities in over 30 countries − including more than 70 million meals to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023.

The fragile truce brokered earlier this month has given relief teams such as WCK fresh impetus in their drive to help those in dire need.

Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen. Victor Besa / The National

The charitable group has already moved a mobile bakery, which produces 3,000 pitta breads per hour, from Jordan to Gaza following the halt in fighting.

“We have very high-volume, high-output kitchens. The ceasefire has made it a little easier. Yes, we have been able to get resources into Gaza. We had a very challenging time getting aid in before, but an example of progress is our major mobile bakery,” Erin Gore, chief executive of WCK, told The National.

“When we talk about World Central Kitchen, our superpower – our gift – is feeding massive amounts of food at a very high volume.

“Also, since the ceasefire, we've been able to get one of our refrigerated lorries full of meat and protein into Gaza."

"Protein is a very rare commodity there right now. We staged the lorry outside of the Lalzawmi Kitchen, and families that haven’t had any protein since December 12 are now able to have it in their meals.”

The ceasefire and the subsequent increase in aid efforts is assisting the non-profit to reach more people bearing the brunt of a humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip.

Bringing 'simple joys' to lives marred by war

“We've also been able to gain greater access to the northern region of Gaza, allowing us to add fruit to our hot meals and meal kits," Ms Gore added.

"Some of the children and families haven’t had fruit in many months. It’s the simple joys and pleasures that they have been without for too long.

"Now, we are starting to trickle aid in. And when I say ‘trickle,’ I mean that while food is getting in, we have the capacity to do so much more.

"There are still inherent challenges, but the ceasefire has alleviated some of the long-standing barriers. However, we are eager to do more," she said.

Putting lives on the line

World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, top left, speaks at a memorial service for the seven WCK workers killed in Gaza. All photos: AFP

The American cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs at the service in Washington

World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres at the service

Jose Andres sits at the interfaith memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral

Doug Emhoff, centre, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, at the service

The US second gentleman Doug Emhoff, centre, bows his head

Jose Andres, second from right, bows his head during the interfaith service

Doug Emhoff, right, at the memorial service

The huge risks relief workers take when travelling into war zones was laid bare in April when seven of the WCK team were killed when their aid convoy was hit by an Israeli air strike.

Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha; dual US-Canadian citizen Jacob Flickinger; Australian Lalzawmi Frankcom; Polish citizen Damian Sobol; and three Britons, John Chapman, James Kirby, and James Henderson, were killed.

The killings triggered worldwide condemnation, including from then-president Joe Biden, who said he was “outraged and heart-broken” by the attack.

After the attack, WCK suspended its operations in the enclave but resumed them within weeks and has since delivered massive volumes of food to Gaza and its Northern region.

They named two of their kitchens after colleagues who were killed.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking. But again, as heartbreaking as it is, we are honouring their legacies. We are honouring their heart, trying to do our best every day to remember them, to say their names, to carry on the good work," said Ms Gore.

"They live in our hearts, they live in dreams, and I can still hear their voices and laughs."

Resuming operation in Gaza she said was one of the hardest decisions they had to make.

“But at the heart of it, it was also the easiest decision to make,” said Ms Gore.

“As the leader of the organisation, it was an incredibly difficult decision, but we listened to the local community. We know that those seven beautiful souls – our friends, our colleagues – would want us to continue. And so we've since named two of our kitchens: the Lalzawmi Kitchen and the Damian Kitchen.”

Inspirational teen honoured

Heman Bekele, Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honoree. Victor Besa / The National

The Prime Minister of Barbados and climate change champion Mia Amor Mottley and 15-year-old “health innovator” Heman Bekele shared the $1 million prize with the WCK team.

Heman, who was born in Ethiopia, a student in the US, was recognised for developing a soap that treats skin cancer.

He aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all. To further this mission, he established the Bekele Foundation, which seeks to ensure widespread availability of life-saving treatments.

His cancer-treating soap, he hopes, will be available within the next five years.

"I’ve always been passionate about this from a human perspective – seeing people who don’t even know that life-saving treatments exist, or who can’t access them," he said.

"The healthcare exists, but there’s a barrier between it and the people who need it. That really hurts, knowing that even if a life-saving treatment is available, it might never reach someone simply because they can't afford it or don’t have access to it. Fighting against that barrier is my goal."