One month after 'Israel' killed seven workers, WCK to return to Gaza
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A news release on the group’s website states that a Palestinian-run team is due to distribute aid and food starting Monday from the organization’s three kitchens in Gaza.
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Palestinian medics treat a wounded child in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip at the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah refugee camp on April 19, 2024. (AP)
The World Central Kitchen (WCK) revealed intentions to resume humanitarian works in Gaza, a month after seven of their aid workers were killed by "Israel".
The WCK's CEO Erin Gore said in a statement, “The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire,” adding, “We are restarting our operation with the same energy, dignity, and focus on feeding as many people as possible.”
A news release on the group’s website stated that a Palestinian-run team is due to distribute aid and food starting Monday from the organization’s three kitchens in Gaza.
“We will continue to get as much food into Gaza, including northern Gaza, as possible – by land, air, or sea,” the statement noted.
WCK is resuming efforts in Gaza, working with our team of Palestinians to feed as many people as possible. Our team is finalizing construction on a new field kitchen in central Gaza named after Damian, one of our fallen heroes. Read more: https://t.co/Tdns2vCovU #ChefsForGaza pic.twitter.com/6VpFlfCLTh
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) April 28, 2024
Gore warned that aid workers are still under threat in Gaza, which likely contributed to handing the work to local Palestinians for now.
Read more: Gaza drinking unsafe, untreated water due to Israeli blockade: MoH
“We have been forced to make a decision: Stop feeding altogether during one of the worst hunger crises ever, ending our operation that accounted for 62% of all International NGO aid, or keep feeding knowing that aid workers and civilians are being intimidated and killed,” Gora continued.
Out of 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza, every single one of them is grappling with hunger and food insecurity, UN human rights experts warned, while calling for the delivery of sufficient aid to face the challenge of possible starvation among the entire population.
Indiscriminate attacks
Several humanitarian aid organizations suspended their operations in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of the seven WCK workers.
These nonprofits, including World Central Kitchen, are now reportedly assessing the safety of their personnel in delivering aid to the besieged Strip amid the relentless and indiscriminate Israeli bombing.
In the same context, the United Nations reported that over 180 humanitarian aid workers have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7.
The occupation entity admitted that it was behind the attack and has received wide condemnation, especially from Western countries, who also demanded an "immediate investigation" into the crime.
Simultaneously, the WCK released a statement saying that its "team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle."
According to the organization, the three World Central Kitchen vehicles were targeted after loading food from a nearby warehouse. The organization asserted that these vehicles were clearly identifiable, and their movements were monitored by the Israeli military.
