Celebrity chef José Andrés’ aid group has sent 200 tons of food to Gaza. Who is he and what is World Central Kitchen?

Celeb chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen nonprofit have despatched assist to Gaza, transport just about 200 tons of meals this week to Palestinians. The group shipped the meals from Cyprus on the Open Arms ship, which belongs to a Spanish nonprofit that helps vulnerable of us in emergency situations.

Who’s José Andrés?

Andrés, 54, is a Spanish-born chef who moved to the U.S. years up to now to work in consuming locations in New York Metropolis and Washington, D.C. He helped open various consuming locations throughout the nation’s capitol after which created his private consuming locations throughout the nation, along with Nubeluz, in New York Metropolis, and Jaleo by José Andrés, with locations in Washington, D.C., Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago and Dubai.

Whereas working in D.C., Andrés volunteered at DC Central Kitchen, which repurposes meals throughout the metropolis to provide for these in need. This sparked his curiosity in philanthropy, and he primarily based World Central Kitchen in 2010. Its first mission was delivering meals to Haiti.

What’s World Central Kitchen?

World Central Kitchen mobilizes first responders to hold meals to of us effected by pure disasters, crises and humanitarian emergencies throughout the globe

“Deploying our model of quick movement, leveraging native property, and adapting in precise time, everyone knows {{that a}} nourishing meal in a time of catastrophe is loads higher than a plate of meals — it’s hope, it’s dignity, and it’s a sign that someone cares,” the group’s web page reads.

The nonprofit recently sent food to war-torn Ukraine, to Texas all through the wildfires, and to Japan following earthquakes. All through the highest of the COVID-19 pandemic, they delivered meals to children learning at home, first responders and seniors who had been at risk.

The group moreover has a “Chef Corps” of cooks who use their native contacts to help ship meals all through crises of their areas. 

In April 2022, Andrés and his employees had been on the underside serving meals out of a restaurant in Kharkiv, Ukraine — the first time he and his employees operated in a battle zone.

When a Russian missile struck shut by, 4 of us with World Central Kitchen had been injured. 

Nevertheless the assault barely slowed their operation. “What occurred throughout the hours after was unbelievable,” Andrés instructed “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Tracy Smith. “When the proprietor of that restaurant requested all the employees members, ‘What do you want to do?’ they said, ‘We wanna protect cooking. We wanna protect combating.’”

The group has equipped higher than 60 million meals to those in need.

Gaza assist shipments

The U.N. has warned regarding the imminent risk of famine in Gaza, a slim strip of land bordered by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean, the place some 2.3 million Palestinians keep. With its borders closed and battle raging, an estimated 1.7 million of Gaza’s of us had been displaced as of Jan. 20, consistent with the United Nations, with many having no entry to meals, water, medicine or relevant shelter.

Malnutrition and dehydration have gotten a rising part of the humanitarian crisis.

President Biden launched all through his State of the Union sort out closing week that the U.S. military will help create temporary port on the Gaza coast to help enhance the amount of humanitarian assist that will enter the realm.

World Central Kitchen labored with the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus to open a corridor for the Open Arms ship to ship meals to Gaza. The group has collected 500 tons of meals, presently stationed in Cyprus, along with rice, flour, canned greens, protein and legumes. 

They named their mission Operation Safeena, which suggests boat or vessel in Arabic, a guide for World Central Kitchen instructed CBS Info.

The first World Central Kitchen boat left Cyprus on Wednesday and was arrived in Gaza on Friday, the guide said. The cargo contains ample meals for almost half a million meals.

They’re preparing about 300 tons of humanitarian meals assist for a second journey to Gaza.

Since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants launched a terror attack in Israel which triggered the battle, the group says it has despatched higher than 37 million meals and 1,500 vans to Gaza and likewise opened higher than 60 group kitchens throughout the area.

Moreover they airdropped meals from a Royal Jordanian Air Stress cargo airplane, and have so far delivered 150,000 meals to Palestinians in Gaza, consistent with a social media submit, along with providing 5,000 meals to households in Lebanon who had been displaced by the battle.

Earlier this month, the U.S. also began airdorpping aid into Gaza. Egypt, France, the Netherlands and Belgium have moreover despatched assist.

Caitlin O’Kane

Caitlin O’Kane is a New York Metropolis journalist who works on the CBS Info social media employees as a senior supervisor of content material materials and manufacturing. She writes about various issues and produces “The Uplift,” CBS Info’ streaming current that focuses on good news.