The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in a statement on Archewell website, announced plans to build its next Community Relief Center in India in partnership with World Central Kitchen. The release cited the nation’s alarming second wave of COVID-19 as grounds for erecting the center there.
“Right now, COVID-19 cases are spiking across the entire country of India. On Tuesday, India’s total virus cases exceeded 25 million, with 260,000 new cases and 4,329 deaths reported in the past 24 hours,” the statement said.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, millions have been infected, and there is widespread concern that the crisis is even worse than reported.”
The relief center will be built in Mumbai, India, which is also home to Myna Mahila, an Indian organisation focused on women’s health and employment opportunities that Meghan has long supported.
“The purpose of these centers is to provide relief and resilience (as well as healing and strength) for the communities in which they’re based,” the statement said.
“During future crises, these centers can be quickly activated as emergency response kitchens—or vaccination sites—and through calmer times they can serve as food distribution hubs, schools, clinics, or community gathering spaces for families.”
World Central Kitchen is run by Chef José Andrés, and sets up kitchens in the wake of disasters to provide food to those affected.
Harry and Meghan tied the knot on 19 May 2018 in a fairytale Windsor wedding that was watched by millions around the globe. The couple are expected to mark the milestone in a low-key way, especially since the Duchess, 39, is heavily pregnant with their baby daughter.