Starbucks Donates $3M to World Central Kitchen for Gaza

Starbucks' regional operator in the Middle East and North Africa, the Kuwait-based AlShaya Group, has pledged $3 million to support the food charity World Central Kitchen's relief efforts in Gaza.

Read More: How Can You Help the People in Gaza While Living in the UAE?

The donation, announced on Tuesday, aims to provide one million meals to those affected by the recent conflict.

AlShaya Group, which operates approximately 1,900 Starbucks stores across the region, also announced an employee donation-matching initiative to further support food aid efforts in Gaza.

"We grieve with World Central Kitchen’s team in Gaza and their families around the world," wrote AlShaya in the statement announcing the donation. "As the organization takes the time to reevaluate when its operations will resume in the region, our commitment remains unwavering."

The commitment comes in the wake of a tragic incident earlier this month, where seven World Central Kitchen aid workers lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

"The IDF investigation marked important steps forward," said World Central Kitchen in a statement. "But we demand an independent commission to more thoroughly investigate the deaths and ensure systemic change."

While the Israel Defense Forces have acknowledged errors in judgment, World Central Kitchen has called for an independent investigation to ensure accountability and systemic change.

Despite the challenges, AlShaya Group reaffirms its solidarity with World Central Kitchen and its commitment to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.

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