José Andrés arrives in Venezuela to lead earthquake relief efforts

Chef José Andrés has arrived in Venezuela to bolster the work of his NGO, World Central Kitchen (WCK), in feeding victims of the recent double earthquake that has caused 2,295 fatalities and 11,267 injuries Source: Infobae. The earthquake, which struck last week, has left thousands homeless and in need of food and water.

Humanitarian response in Venezuela

WCK has been active since day one, setting up meal distribution points across multiple locations. "We are here from the first day," Andrés said upon landing in Valencia, Venezuela Source: La Vanguardia. The organization is leveraging its experience from crises like Gaza and Ukraine, where it served up to 1.5 million meals daily, to provide local dishes such as arepas Source: El Nacional. WCK also plans to bring a bakery from the Middle East and train locals for future emergencies Source: Infobae.

Recognition and philosophy

Andrés recently received the 'Personaje del Año 2026' award from Vanity Fair, but he insists the honor belongs to his entire team. "My best prize is when I do something... and my wife gives me a kiss or winks at me," he said on 'El Hormiguero' Source: ABC. He emphasized that WCK's success relies on local networks: "We are an organization that can grow very fast because there is nothing better than locals helping locals" Source: La Vanguardia. Highlighting the urgency, he stated, "The emergency is not tomorrow, it is yesterday" Source: Infobae.