When news of the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers by an Israeli strike in Gaza broke this week, I was already asleep. But when I woke up Tuesday and learned what had happened, I knew that Times readers would want to hear from the chef José Andrés, who founded the organization. Times Opinion strives, among other things, to bring readers the voices of individuals who are changing the world. As Op-Ed editor in charge of guest essays, I search for perspectives that will offer readers a view on events that is not available elsewhere. In founding World Central Kitchen, Andrés has used his culinary, logistical and political ingenuity to bring millions of hot meals to people around the world. But now, that work has tragically run up against the violence of a conflict in which tens of thousands of civilians have died, and many, many others (some of whom we have heard from) have had lives shattered and upended. After I made contact with Andrés's team, and learned that he was willing to share his perspective on the deaths of Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, John Chapman, Jacob Flickinger, Zomi Frankcom, James Henderson, James Kirby and Damian Sobol, I immediately started thinking: how would the deaths of these humanitarian aid workers affect the people they died trying to help? In the guest essay that was published yesterday, Andrés highlights the consequences of World Central Kitchen and at least one other humanitarian food aid group suspending operations while residents of Gaza are at risk of famine. And he makes an eloquent case for the mission his slain colleagues lost their lives serving: "Their work was based on the simple belief that food is a universal human right."
Here's what we're focusing on today:
We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here.
Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Opinion Today: José Andrés on the killing of his aid worker colleagues
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment