Celebrity chef urges food delivery to Gaza by sea

Wherever there are scenes of turmoil – from violent weather, extraordinary disasters or wars – world-renowned Spanish-American chef José Andrés is often in the frame through his non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen. His intense focus now on the mission to feed the victims of the disaster in war-torn Gaza gives him a seat at the table in policy discussions about the delivery of humanitarian aid, both by air and potentially by sea.

Andrés has strongly advocated, publicly and behind the scenes, for US food aid to the 2.3 million people of Gaza. Before the end of the week, President Biden ordered an airstrike there saying “innocent lives and children’s lives are on the line and we will not stand still.” This weekend, the United States Central Command announced that, in a combined effort with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, US C-130 aircraft dropped more than 38,000 meals along the Gaza coastline. Speaking to the National Press Club, Andrés noted that other nations had dropped aid before the U.S. and that World Central Kitchen has a stockpile in Jordan for just those purposes.

He said he was the same as the King of Jordan in an aerial supply drop. “We bought this food with the idea that we could throw it away,” Andrés said, “and we would have to throw it away every day. The world is hungry. It is a humanitarian disaster. The least we can do is make sure that everyone is fed, that everyone is provided with food and water. This is the least we can do.”

The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Food Program report a Global Nutrition Cluster Report on Gaza This shows that child malnutrition is increasing rapidly in the region. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaibin says the report shows that “the Gaza Strip is poised to witness an explosion in preventable child deaths, which would add to the already unbearable level of child deaths in Gaza. If the conflict does not end now, child nutrition will continue to plummet, leading to preventable deaths or health problems that will affect Gazan children for the rest of their lives.”

The situation is extreme, says Andrés, and he suggests a strategy of delivering food aid not only by air but also on the beaches of Gaza. “Right now, the people of Gaza deserve to be bold. In times of great need is when the best and craziest ideas should be considered. You may see the arrival of a boat or boats on the beaches of Gaza.”

WCK’s mission is to provide food and water in the wake of major disasters worldwide. Started in 2010 amid the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, today, worldwide, World Central Kitchen is approaching a total of 400 million meals served in dire conditions. “In Gaza,” says Andrés, “we have already reached almost 34 million meals through more than 60 kitchens and more than six kitchens waiting to open.”

At the same time, WCK is in its third year of response to the war in Ukraine, where 260 million meals have been provided with more than 550 restaurants being part of the effort. And where fires rage in Texas and Chile, the organization also facilitates meals. “World Central Kitchen is the greatest organization in the history of mankind because every person who wants to volunteer and/or is in the food business – every restaurant, every food truck, every arena, every baseball stadium, every helicopter, boat, amphibious vehicle – all belong to World Central Kitchen. What’s happening is – they don’t know it yet!’

“Our ideas are simple,” says Andrés, “we provide food and water as quickly and as quickly as we can and all team members understand this. And you have the power to do whatever it takes to make it happen. With this simple rule of engagement, teams are usually successful.”

Andrés is a Michelin and James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef with a number of other accolades and restaurants in the US and abroad. Senior Democrats in Congress this year nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

He muses that “in humanity’s worst moments, the best people show up in incredible ways. When we go to a disaster, we only see people helping people. The world should be like this all the time.” But, he says, “too often people can be selfish. We need more pragmatism, more empathy, more understanding. I don’t see people with hate. I see people who want peace, people who want to live with hope. This is what I see.”