The International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a deal with Greece to set up a new supply chain center in Thessaloniki that will help get humanitarian aid to crisis zones faster and more efficiently, according to a press release from IOM.
The state-of-the-art facility reflects IOM’s effort to rethink how humanitarian logistics works, with Deputy Director General SungAh Lee calling it “a space where expertise, innovation, and collaboration come together to strengthen how we respond to people’s needs.” Greek Minister of Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis signed the agreement alongside Lee in Athens. The center will focus on end-to-end supply chain optimization, from buying supplies to storing and delivering aid to people who need it.
IOM’s procurement has exploded from about $500 million in 2016 to $1.7 billion in 2024, with more than 2,000 staff now handling supply chain management worldwide. The organization needed a better way to manage this massive operation, and Thessaloniki’s location at the crossroads of Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East makes it perfect for the job. The city has strong logistics connections and a long history in trade and industry, plus the cultural diversity that IOM values in its operations.
The new center will use cutting-edge technology like automation and real-time tracking to make humanitarian logistics more transparent and environmentally sustainable. It’s not just about moving boxes—the facility will serve as a collaborative space where different organizations can test new solutions, improve how they deliver aid, and build a more agile global response system. This means faster help for people caught in disasters, conflicts, and other crises.
The hub represents a strategic shift toward more effective humanitarian response by combining local partnerships with global expertise. IOM wants to create a system that delivers aid with speed and accountability while respecting the rights and dignity of people in need. The center will help the organization respond to crises more quickly, whether that’s natural disasters, conflicts, or migration emergencies.
This partnership with Greece shows how IOM is working closely with governments and local businesses to strengthen humanitarian response capacity. The organization is betting that better logistics and innovation can make the difference between life and death for people facing emergencies around the world.
