WHO Global
Logistics Center
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The WHO Global Logistics Center represents the largest repository of pre-positioned health supplies and equipment within the World Health Organization’s global supply chain. Delivering health supplies to over 141 countries across all 6 WHO geographic regions, the operation rapidly delivers essential medicines and equipment in response to acute and protracted health emergencies around the world while simultaneously supporting the quality assurance, consolidation, and distribution planning services for programs across the organization.
In 2023, it is estimated that more than 363 million people, more than any other point in human history, are now in need of humanitarian assistance. The vast majority of those in need are at risk from disease outbreaks and lack of access to essential medicines. Driven by conflict, fragile health systems, natural disasters, climate change related events and outbreaks of infectious disease, more and more people are facing threats to human health.
Responding to the unprecedented number of intersecting emergencies, the World Health Organization delivers critical health supplies to assist the world’s most vulnerable populations in their time of greatest need. Reaching over 100 million people with humanitarian health supplies the WHO Global Logistics Center is at the forefront of WHO’s humanitarian response.
Coordinating a record number of charter flights in 2023, the WHO Global Logistics Hub delivered more emergency health supplies more quickly in response to time‑sensitive acute health emergencies than ever before
From the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the Hub delivered life-saving medicines and health supplies to reach an estimated 50 million people impacted by health emergencies arising from outbreaks of infectious disease, natural disasters, conflict, and climate-change related events in 2023.
The escalation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory has led to the death, injury or displacement of thousands of civilians. WHO is urgently working alongside its partners to provide lifesaving healthcare and essential medical supplies in the Gaza Strip, which is facing a severe humanitarian and health crisis.
Working closely with the International Humanitarian City, the Government of Dubai, and the Government of the United Arab Emirates, the WHO Global Logistics Center coordinated 8 charter flights of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Rafa border crossing. These flights contained over USD 3.2 million in critical health supplies such as trauma and emergency surgery supplies, essential medicines, specialized surgical instruments, and medical consumables needed to respond to the overwhelming need for humanitarian health assistance.
On 06 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and North Syria leading to a catastrophic collapse of buildings and resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
Within hours of the event, the WHO Global Logistics Center began mobilizing resources to mount an immediate response to the earthquake affected areas. Delivering critical supplies within 72 hours, the operation established an air bridge of 2 flight rotations per week to deliver 230 metric tons valued at USD 1.9 million to provide assistance to an estimated 1.5 million people. Working around the clock in close coordination with the International Humanitarian City, other UN Organizations, and the WHO country offices in Turkey and Syria, the WHO global logistics center ensured a safe, secure, and uninterrupted supply of essential medicines and equipment to support surgical interventions and life-saving trauma care needed in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
Responding to the conflict in Sudan, the Global Logistics Center coordinated 4 consecutive Charter flights to deliver over USD 2.8 million in vital health supplies including those to treat pediatric and severe acute malnutrition, malaria, cholera, trauma injuries, and non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Delivering 100 metric tons of supplies to Sudan and neighboring Egypt to assist those fleeing the violence, the operation continues to play a critical role in the emergency response by offering critical temperature-controlled storage, consolidation, and response support.
Representing the single largest recipient of humanitarian aid by value from the Global Logistics Center, Yemen continues to be a top priority for the World Health Organization.
Struggling from years of conflict, drought, and weakened health systems, the operation delivers more humanitarian aid to Yemen than any other response globally. Delivering over USD 8 million in health supplies in 2023, the response to Yemen will remain the single largest response activity delivering vital medicines such as anti-cancer treatments and specialized reproductive health medicine and equipment.
Receiving over USD 41 million of in-kind operational support including USD 5 million in emergency air charters enables WHO’s health emergency program to deliver more supplies to more people faster than ever before.
The Global Logistics Center experienced an exponential increase in demand in 2020 largely fueled by the COVID-19 Pandemic. During the first 90 days of the response, the operation accounted for over 75% of all PPE dispatched globally by WHO.
In 2021, the demand for health supplies shifted dramatically from primarily COVID-19 related to a broader array of health emergencies caused by conflict, natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious disease.
Focusing primarily on health emergency response, the operation targets countries and populations at greatest risk. Delivering 50% of all health supplies to the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) and approximately 25-30% to the African Region (AFRO) the distribution of supplies is aligned with the severity, scale, and geographic distribution of health emergencies globally.
Partnerships continue to play a vital role in supporting the WHO Global Logistics Center.
Rapid access to emergency charter flights and operational support provided by the International Humanitarian City (IHC), the Government of Dubai, and the Government of the United Arab Emirates enables the World Health Organization to deliver more humanitarian health assistance to more people in need around the world.
Through operational partnerships with the World Food Program, WHO continues to reach some of the most complex emergencies through dedicated transportation provided by WFP including destinations across Africa and those with limited access such as Yemen.
