In a surprising announcement, food relief organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) has paused its meal and bread services in the Gaza Strip. After serving over 130 million meals and baking 26 million loaves of bread in just 18 months, the charity now faces a severe shortage of key supplies. 😢
The halt comes as border crossings have been closed since early March, cutting off the steady stream of ingredients essential for daily operations. With field kitchens out of basic ingredients and its mobile bakery running out of flour, more than 80% of community kitchens in Gaza have exhausted the supplies provided by WCK. 🚫
Amjad Shawa, director at the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, warned that the closure of these community kitchens could aggravate the hunger crisis. "The repercussions on the health and lives of the most vulnerable—children, women, the elderly, and the sick—could be dire," he stated, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to reopen crossings and allow humanitarian and medical aid to flow in. ⚠️
This development follows the cessation of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, after the first phase of a ceasefire agreement expired. The unfolding situation highlights the risk of an escalating humanitarian crisis, urging stakeholders to act promptly to support the region in need.
Reference(s):
World Central Kitchen to pause Gaza operations over supply shortages
cgtn.com
