MADRID, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Jose Andres, founder of the charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), has won the 2020 Basque Culinary World Prize thanks to his work in helping to feed tens of thousands of people during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Andres, who runs a string of restaurants in the United States and set up WCK 10 years ago to help provide solutions to hunger and poverty, confirmed the winning on Thursday.

The Basque Culinary World Prize, an annual prize awarded by the Basque Culinary Center based in the city of San Sebastian (northern Spain), explained on social media that "Through World Central Kitchen, founded 10 years ago, he has inspired chefs from all over the world and mobilized them to provide a global and cooperative response to a variety of emergency situation."

When the coronavirus pandemic began to escalate in March, Andres set up 150 different kitchens in 10 Spanish and American cities and worked with local chefs, food banks and the Red Cross to provide daily hot meals to people who have been affected by the crisis.

A documentary broadcast on Spanish national TV network, RTVE in June showed Andres working in Spain and also how WCK served outs millionth meal in his homeland during the ongoing health crisis.

The organization has provided over 30 million meals in its decade of existence in countries as varied as Albania, The Bahamas, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Mozambique, Spain, Venezuela, and the United States.

"Only those who work in the restaurant sector can help revive the economy while at the same time rebuild communities," Andres has commented.

The jury of the Basque Culinary World Prize explained in its notes that "WCK has intervened in many countries and mobilized thousands of volunteers and cooks from around the world. In addition, the chef has spent years promoting immigration reforms and workplace improvements for the restaurant sector, aware that the kitchen can be an engine of social change." Enditem

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