WCK Humanity Kitchen And Celebrity Chef Jose Andres In Ukraine Destroyed By Russian Missiles
JAKARTA - A Ukraine-based humanitarian kitchen linked to celebrity chef José Andrés has been destroyed by a Russian missile in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, according to the charity that runs it.
One of the restaurant partners of World Central Kitchen (WCK) was famous for missiles on Saturday April 16, according to Nate Mook CEO Nate Mook, who confirmed the news on Twitter. He said four staff members were injured in the blast.
"An update I wish I didn't have to make. I'm at a restaurant @wckitchen in Kharkiv, where less than 24 hours ago I met their amazing team," Mook wrote along with a video of himself standing between burning cars and buildings. which was badly damaged, reported CNN April 19.
"This is the reality here, cooking is a heroic act of bravery," he said.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest, has been under heavy bombardment on a regular basis since Russia began its invasion more than six weeks ago.
On Sunday, Mook shared an update from Kharkiv, indicating that the injured staff were 'fine' and the restaurant team was in the process of moving all undamaged food products and utensils to another location in the city.
"The work doesn't stop," he added.
Andrés shared his Twitter statement regarding the attack, as well as providing an update on the state of safety of staff at the restaurant.
The Spanish chef also spoke out against the Russian attack and called for a halt to the fighting.
"Please stop killing civilians non-stop day and night. That's why people are afraid, that's why many people are still in bunkers, that's why many people, they don't want to be in a comfortable home and many nights, they Go to the safety of the subway, " he asked.
"That's why, once again, this war must end." said Andres.
Founded by Andrés in 2010, WCK, an organization focused on providing food in disaster and war zones, has been supplying Ukraine with food since the start of the conflict, with units in about 30 cities across the country, according to its official website.
On April 15, Andrés shared a chart detailing the scale of the organization's operations in Ukraine, including setting up more than 300 restaurants and delivering more than 300,000 meals a day.
"We believe that a plate of food is sometimes the start of a better tomorrow," Andrés said in a video posted on Sunday.
To everyone caring and sending good wishes to the team in Kharkiv, thank you, the injured are fine, and everyone is ready and willing to start cooking in another location. #FoodFighters @WCKitchen All our friends are TRUE heroes! Many ways to fight, we do it with food! https://t.co/hyfg7qPjIm
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) April 17, 2022