King Salman Center inaugurates central kitchen in Gaza to address food crisis
In a significant humanitarian initiative aimed at alleviating the food crisis in the Gaza Strip, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center a fully equipped central kitchen in the Strip. This kitchen will produce and distribute thousands of hot meals daily to displaced and affected Palestinian families. The project is part of the Saudi popular campaign to aid the Palestinian people and is being implemented in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage.
Confronting an unprecedented humanitarian crisis
The opening of this kitchen comes amidst extremely complex humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, where international and UN organizations have repeatedly warned of worsening food insecurity and the brink of famine in parts of the Strip, particularly in the north. Since the start of the current crisis, infrastructure has suffered immense destruction, and livelihoods have been disrupted, leaving millions of residents entirely dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. In this context, initiatives that provide ready-made and nutritious meals represent a true lifeline for the population, especially the most vulnerable groups such as children, women, and the elderly.
Huge production capacity and sustainable goals
The project aims to develop and operate a fully equipped central kitchen capable of producing 24,000 hot meals daily , with full operation scheduled to begin at the start of Ramadan 1447 AH. According to the project plan, a total of 3,600,000 meals distributed to displaced and affected families in the northern, central, and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, explained that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is one of the largest in modern history, with more than 90% of the population suffering from food insecurity. He affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, initiated a continuous air and sea bridge to deliver aid from the very first day of the crisis, in addition to a public campaign that garnered significant support.
Local impact and Saudi humanitarian role
This project's impact extends beyond simply providing food; it also supports the fragile local economy. The project aims to utilize local resources and leverage existing capabilities within the sector, creating employment opportunities for approximately 40 individuals , thus directly and indirectly improving the income of beneficiary families. This approach underscores the center's commitment to ensuring the sustainability of its humanitarian projects.
This central kitchen is one of the largest food projects implemented by the center in the Gaza Strip. It complements extensive relief efforts that have included sending more than 80 planes and dozens of ships loaded with food, shelter materials, and medical supplies, as well as organizing land convoys through the Rafah crossing. This initiative embodies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's and its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center's, unwavering commitment to supporting affected populations worldwide and prioritizing human dignity.
