Latest from our Relief Team in Gaza, Ukraine & Brazil

 

Latest updates from Gaza, Brazil & Ukraine. WCK named one of TIME’s Most influential Companies. Service With Purpose this Hajj Season | Donate United Airlines miles 400 million meals served and counting World Central Kitchen has now provided 400 million meals to families impacted by humanitarian and natural disasters since our founding in 2010. Today, our Relief Team is on the ground in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Brazil providing hope to families impacted by crises, one plate of food at a time. Read the latest updates from the ground below.  Central Gaza kitchens set to increase capacity The crisis in southern Gaza has become increasingly dire. The Israeli offensive in Rafah has forced more than a million Palestinains to once more flee for safety. Increased attacks and restricted access to humanitarian aid have forced WCK to pause work at our main kitchen in Rafah and relocate many of our community kitchens further north. Despite unprecedented challenges, we are cooking tens of thousands of meals from our central Gaza kitchens and will increase capacity in the coming days as dozens of our aid trucks have entered since Sunday with desperately needed supplies. Our teams have served more than 47 million meals in Gaza since first responding in the region in October. Devastation is widespread, but WCK's Palestinian team—all directly impacted by the war—shows up every day to support neighbors in need. Raeda, one of the many women that led our bakery in Rafah, stands as a beacon of hope in Gaza. She has devoted herself to supporting neighbors, who, like her, were forced to flee their homes. Watch the video below to learn more about her story of hope and bravery. Support Our Work in Gaza WCK expands flooding response in Brazil WCK has been on the ground in Porto Alegre for six days, helping families impacted by the severe flooding in southern Brazil. Along with local partners, we have served more than 16,000 meals, while also distributing drinking water and dry ingredients for cooking. “You imagine a hurricane or tornado, how quick that happens, but this has been for weeks without stopping,” said Juan Camilo, WCK’s response lead who is on the ground in Brazil.  WCK’s team identified an indigenous community five miles south of Porto Alegre in need of support. Some families here have returned home but lack the means to cook for themselves. We provided ingredients and cooking supplies. The reality on the ground still remains difficult, recovery is slowest in vulnerable neighborhoods and many businesses are unable to reopen, including markets. Food remains an urgent need, and our teams are working hard to scale up our response and partner with more local restaurants and food trucks to get meals to families who need them. Read more about our response here. Support Our Work in Brazil Ukraine Team steps up amid increasing attacks Russia’s latest offensive into eastern Ukraine has continued to intensify in recent weeks. Daily attacks on residential neighborhoods and vital infrastructure have compounded the humanitarian crisis brought on by 27 months of occupation. This past week, WCK’s Emergency Response Team was on the ground in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions where attacks caused loss of life, forced evacuations, and widespread environmental damage.  Support Our Work in Ukraine On Saturday, a Russian bomb hit a hardware store while more than 100 customers and staff were inside the building, killing at least 19 people. Our team arrived at the site of the blast quickly and remained there for five days as search and rescue efforts continued. We provided hundreds of meals to first responders looking for survivors amid the rubble. In Lyman, a village in the Donetsk region where some of the most intense fighting is occurring, our team responded to a forest fire ignited by Russian artillery. Fires like this have become more common in eastern Ukraine and WCK is providing meals to firefighters working nonstop to control the blazes.  WCK among TIME's Most Influential Companies WCK is honored to be included on TIME's list of the 100 Most Influential Companies of 2024. This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of our teams who stand shoulder to shoulder with the communities we serve and to the extended WCK family that fuels our work. Read more here. Service with purpose in the month of Hajj The approaching month of Dhul-Hijjah a is precious for Muslims worldwide. Hajj is a season that embodies the principle of sacrifice, reminding us all of the importance of selflessness and devotion to a higher cause. As millions gather to observe Hajj, World Central Kitchen stands united in our commitment to service. Learn more about WCK’s plans to support families in Gaza during the season of Hajj. Help our team reach communities in need United Airlines, a longtime WCK partner, is matching 1-to-1 all miles donated by Mileage Plus members, up to one million miles. Friday, May 31, is the last day to donate miles as part of the match campaign. Your donation helps ensure our Relief Team reaches communities in need as quickly as possible. Donate miles today.