The famous Spanish chef (center) took the initiative to send the first aid ship to Gaza since the start of the aggression (French)
A report published by the Washington Post stated that the first ship carrying aid to Gaza since 2005 arrived yesterday, Friday.
The report pointed out that it was not the United Nations that put forward this initiative, nor any world leader who put it forward. Rather, credit for it goes to the famous chef José Andrés, whose charitable foundation World Central Kitchen (World Central Kitchen) cooperated with the Spanish group “Open Arms” to bring about 200 tons of food. Food to the hungry area.
The newspaper pointed out that Andres built his name through cookbooks and famous restaurants, but he also became known for traveling to disaster and conflict areas carrying food relief supplies with the organization he co-founded.
Who is José Andres?
The famous restaurateur was born in Spain, moved from his father's house when he was 15 years old, and became financially independent thanks to his work in the field of hospitality. During that time, he attended culinary school, then received guidance under the supervision of a prominent chef, then spent a period in the Navy before going to the United States. United States, aged 21 years.
He moved to Washington to lead the kitchen at the new “Jalio” restaurant in 1993, and from there he launched more than 30 restaurants, most of them in the United States, before establishing “Global Central Kitchen” in 2010.
He has been clear and outspoken on the issues of child hunger and obesity, supporting agribusiness, the minimum wage and immigration reform.
In 2013, he became an American citizen, and is married with three daughters.
When the American magazine Time chose him in 2018 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, his fellow famous chef Emeril Lagasse wrote that Andrés was “a brilliant restaurateur who contributed to shaping the history and path of American cooking by presenting his distinctive style of Spanish food and culture.”
What is World Central Cuisine?
Andres and his partners created this group after going to help feed people in Haiti, which was devastated by a deadly earthquake.
From there, the organization grew, responding to the need for food after hurricanes in Houston and Puerto Rico, and wildfires in the western United States and in Australia.
The foundation's workers were cooking for refugees living in tents on the border between the United States and Mexico and fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Speaking about its mission, the group emphasizes that it is “the first to reach the front lines and provide fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate and societal crises.”
In 2021, Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, awarded Andres $100 million through his annual Courage and Civility Award.
How do I send an aid ship to Gaza?
His group sent a ship from Cyprus to northern Gaza.
Andres told US lawmakers on Thursday that there was no port infrastructure in northern Gaza, but employees there had created a dock using the rubble of bombed buildings in preparation for the ship's arrival.
Andres explained to the newspaper that the aid will be distributed through his charitable organization’s network in Gaza, which includes more than 60 kitchens and many warehouses, with more being built.
Source: Washington Post