World Central Kitchen Plans Temporary Halt to Gaza Efforts Due to Supply Shortages
On Wednesday, World Central Kitchen, the food relief organization, declared that it will cease cooking operations in the Gaza Strip because of the exhaustion of humanitarian supplies.
TroibNews 
World Central Kitchen, the food relief organization, announced Wednesday that it will stop cooking in the Gaza Strip due to a shortage of humanitarian supplies.
"After serving more than 130 million total meals and 26 million loaves of bread over the past 18 months, World Central Kitchen no longer has the supplies to cook meals or bake bread in Gaza," the Washington, D.C.-based charity stated in a press release.
The organization added, "Since Israel closed border crossings in early March, WCK has been unable to replenish the stocks of food that we use to feed hundreds of thousands of Gazans daily."
According to WCK, its large-scale field kitchens have run out of essential ingredients for preparing daily meals, and its mobile bakery lacks any flour. Additionally, more than 80 percent of community kitchens in Gaza have depleted their stock provided by WCK.
Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, expressed concern that the closing of community kitchens due to lack of food supplies might worsen hunger in the region.
"The repercussions of the severe humanitarian disaster will be significant on the health and lives of citizens, especially children, women, the elderly, and the sick," Shawa told Xinhua.
He also warned, "If all parties do not intervene to save the situation by opening the crossings and allowing the entry of humanitarian and medical aid, we will be facing an extremely dangerous situation in Gaza."
Israel ceased the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that was reached in January. The UN has raised alarms about a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, noting an increase in acute hunger, particularly among children.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
"After serving more than 130 million total meals and 26 million loaves of bread over the past 18 months, World Central Kitchen no longer has the supplies to cook meals or bake bread in Gaza," the Washington, D.C.-based charity stated in a press release.
The organization added, "Since Israel closed border crossings in early March, WCK has been unable to replenish the stocks of food that we use to feed hundreds of thousands of Gazans daily."
According to WCK, its large-scale field kitchens have run out of essential ingredients for preparing daily meals, and its mobile bakery lacks any flour. Additionally, more than 80 percent of community kitchens in Gaza have depleted their stock provided by WCK.
Amjad Shawa, the director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, expressed concern that the closing of community kitchens due to lack of food supplies might worsen hunger in the region.
"The repercussions of the severe humanitarian disaster will be significant on the health and lives of citizens, especially children, women, the elderly, and the sick," Shawa told Xinhua.
He also warned, "If all parties do not intervene to save the situation by opening the crossings and allowing the entry of humanitarian and medical aid, we will be facing an extremely dangerous situation in Gaza."
Israel ceased the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that was reached in January. The UN has raised alarms about a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, noting an increase in acute hunger, particularly among children.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
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