Spanish Chef´s World Central Kitchen Helps Feed Turkish Victims

February 10, 2023 Madrid Metropolitan spain news, turkey

As the relief effort gets under way in response to the February 6th Turkish earthquake one of Spain´s best known chefs is also pitching in to help.

Jose Ramon Andres Puerta, 53, popularly known only as Jose Andres, from the municipality of Mieres, in Asturias, has reportedly begun setting up his kitchen in Turkey’s most affected earthquake areas.

The Spanish chef has been lauded for his many humanitarian efforts, including by President Barack Obama who awarded him the Medal of Honor.

Photo shows Jose Andres undated. Jose Andres, a Spanish chef, and founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters, flew to Turkey to help survivers of the earthquake. (@chefjoseandres/Newsflash)Puerta, who officially became an American citizen in 2013, gained fame after he founded the non-profit World Central Kitchen devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters in 2010.

For his humanitarian accomplishments, Puerta, who operates 25 restaurants across the USA, Mexico and Puerto Rico, was given a National Humanities Medal by Barack Obama in 2015.

The D.C.-based chef reportedly installed relief centres in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, food insecure communities during Covid-19, and has been supporting Ukraine ever since the Russian invasion last year.

Although now based in the States, Puerta is a frequent visitor to his native country and owns three restaurants in Madrid.

He has now once again offered a helping hand to the Turkish people who were devastated by the disastrous 7.7. and 7.8 magnitude earthquakes on Monday, 6th February.

According to the charity website the “WCK’s Relief Team reached communities near the epicenter in Türkiye two days after the disaster, the earliest it was safe to do so. Working with local partners, we are supporting families impacted by the crisis and authorities stretched thin due to the scale of the disaster. This is a quickly evolving situation and we will share updates as we have them”.

Photo shows Jose Andres (front left), undated. Jose Andres, a Spanish chef, and founder of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters, flew to Turkey to help survivers of the earthquake. (@chefjoseandres/Newsflash)

He said in a Twitter post on Tuesday (7th February): “@RTErdogan as we spoke in Madrid few months ago, @WCKitchen is an emergency Food Organization!

“We are already arriving on the ground, and with local partners, we will help the Turkish people in this difficult hour! #ChefsForTurkey.”

He then said in a second message: “Proud to see Firefighters of @spain from Valencia and Zaragoza on my flight to Istanbul and then to Adana to join @WCKitchen teams.

“Amazing initial response of the International community…let’s hope this dogs and others find many more people alive….”

On Wednesday (8th February) he posted: “@WCKitchen we landed in Adana and at 3:00 am we went to deliver Kebabs to one shelter with 150 people and we are going to Mayor’s office to see all the other shelters that we will be helping provide meals!

“And then to Hatay to start food operations there…”