Spanish chef José Andrés says he has served more than 20,000 meals to victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas

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(CNN Spanish) - The famous Spanish chef José Andrés shared in his account his World Central Kitchen organization that they have served more than 20,000 plates of food for those affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.

Over the weekend, the World Central Kitchen, founded by the Spanish chef, said he had served 20,000 meals from his kitchen in Nassau, to families located on the three main islands and other small islands; the food was transported through a seaplane, three helicopters plus a boat.

Scenes from the day: From our kitchen in Nassau led by Chef Karla to serving families at Abaco airport to paella in Freeport. Today we delivered over 20,000 meals thanks to your support of our #ChefsForBahamas relief efforts. 🇧🇸 pic.twitter.com/RlffR9YplS

- World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) September 9, 2019

No rest today in Bahamas! @WCKitchen delivered over 20,000 meals across the three big islands plus many small ones… adapting to whatever we could use — seaplane, 3 helicopters + boat! We visited new communities, even evacuated sick & now establishing daily routes! #ChefsForBahamas pic.twitter.com/zrf382JjqP

- José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) September 9, 2019

This Sunday, 2,000 pounds of fresh fruit and 600 sandwiches were also delivered at Elbow Cay and Green Turtle Cay, according to World Central Kitchen.

The passage of Hurricane Dorian, which made landfall in the Bahamas as a category 5 cyclone, has left at least 43 dead and some 70,000 victims. The powerful cyclone crushed homes, schools, supermarkets, roads and airports at the northern end of the Bahamas. Tens of thousands of stunned and exhausted survivors were ruined. The most desperate seek refuge in the terminals and ports of the airport, where the chef arrived with food for the needy.

Andrés tweeted that he delivered 14,000 meals on Friday and 24,000 on Saturday and could deliver about 30,000 servings in total with additional helicopters.

The renowned chef asked the United States Coast Guard and USAID for any available helicopters, and then praised the United States Coast Guard.

Later he tweeted photos from an elementary school shelter in Marsh Harbor, adding: "I've met so many heroes here that I lose count ... we can't let them down."

2000 pounds of fresh fruit + 600 sandwiches delivered by seaplane to Elbow Cay and Green Turtle Cay this morning! These boats will make sure they get to shelters and families around the islands. #ChefsForBahamas pic.twitter.com/T7vpMxloIg

- World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) September 8, 2019

Marsh Harbor is the largest city in the Abacos and one of the most affected. A truck delivered at least two bodies to an impromptu morgue on Saturday. Funerals told CNN that the difficulty in reaching the dead was slowing their work. Diving equipment was needed to recover many submerged bodies, they said.

A history of humanitarian aid

José Andrés and his nonprofit organization have served millions of free meals to Americans in need after natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Florence and California wildfires in 2018.

He even settled in Washington to feed federal government workers who were suspended or who worked without pay during the partial 35-day shutdown in January.

When the government shutdown began in January this year, it promised free employees in any of its restaurants to federal employees. This quickly generated a campaign known as #ChefsForFeds with the opening of a kitchen and a cafe near the White House and expanded to 12 states and Puerto Rico. The effort also offered take-away meals to families, as well as essential items such as diapers, pet food and cat litter.

Andrés grew up in Spain and found fame as a chef in Washington, where his tapas restaurant, Jaleo, opened in the early 1990s and spawned a mini-empire of restaurants throughout the city and the country.

- With information from Mike Hayes and Andrea Diaz of CNN

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