The United Nation agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) inaugurated its new Global Supply Chain Centre in Thessaloniki, Greece, marking a major milestone in strengthening the organization’s ability to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance more rapidly and efficiently to communities affected by crises worldwide.

“Today’s inauguration marks an important milestone not only for Thessaloniki, but for Greece as a whole,” said Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis. “Building on its historic role as a crossroads of continents, peoples and trade, Thessaloniki is now strengthening its position as an international logistics hub, creating new opportunities for investment, employment and innovation.”

Located at the crossroads of Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, the centre combines Thessaloniki’s strategic location with strong transport links and logistics expertise. It will serve as a global hub for humanitarian supply chain operations, supporting the procurement, storage and distribution of essential relief supplies through innovative technologies, data-driven planning and sustainable logistics practices.

“The opening of this centre is a significant investment in the future of humanitarian response,” said SungAh Lee, IOM Deputy Director General for Management and Reform. “As humanitarian needs continue to grow, this centre will help IOM deliver life-saving assistance faster, more efficiently and with greater accountability.”

The inauguration brought together senior government officials and representatives from international organizations, the private sector, academia and civil society. The centre will build on these partnerships to develop and scale innovative approaches that strengthen humanitarian logistics and improve aid delivery worldwide.

“Greece firmly believes that the complex challenges of our time can only be addressed through international cooperation and effective partnerships,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yannis Loverdos. “IOM stands at the forefront of this effort, and Greece is proud to support its mission.”

The inauguration builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between IOM and the Government of Greece in July 2025, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing humanitarian preparedness, operational excellence and sustainable development through stronger international cooperation.

“Humanitarian crises, climate-related disasters and forced displacement require faster responses, stronger partnerships and smarter logistics,” said Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis. “No country and no organization can face these challenges alone. Success depends on cooperation. It depends on trust. And it depends on cities like Thessaloniki, which can offer stability, connectivity and the ability to bring people together.” 

As humanitarian needs continue to evolve, the Thessaloniki Global Supply Chain Centre will become a cornerstone of IOM’s global humanitarian operations, enabling faster, smarter and more sustainable delivery of life-saving assistance to people affected by crises around the world.

A former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Head, Policy Development and Evaluation, Jeff Crisp, has stirred discussion on social media after declaring that there is “no such thing as a race.”

In a post shared on X, Crisp argued that all human beings belong to the same species and are capable of reproducing with one another, making the concept of separate races scientifically unfounded.

“For the record. There is no such thing as a ‘race’. We are all humans, able to procreate with each other. And consequently there is no such thing as a ‘mixed race person’. There are just people with a multitude of different skin colours and physical characteristics,” he wrote.

The post has generated widespread reactions, with users debating the distinction between the biological and social meanings of race.

Modern scientific research broadly supports the view that humans do not comprise separate biological races. Genetic studies have found that all living humans belong to a single species, Homo sapiens, and share more than 99.9 per cent of their DNA. The genetic differences that do exist are generally greater within populations than between them, leading many scientists to conclude that traditional racial categories lack a biological basis.

However, experts note that while race is not considered a valid biological classification, it remains a powerful social construct. Societies have historically used racial categories to classify people based on physical traits such as skin colour, facial features and hair texture, with these classifications often influencing access to opportunities, treatment under the law and lived experiences.

As a result, scholars distinguish between the scientific consensus that biological races do not exist in humans and the social reality that race continues to shape politics, economics and everyday life around the world.

Crisp’s comments have added to the longstanding global conversation on genetics, identity and the role of race in society.

Jan Egeland, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Secretary General has expressed deep concerns about the level of havoc wreaked by the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela.

Egeland spoke in a statement issued by the NRC.

The statement reads unedited:

“What NRC aid workers witness on the ground in and around Caracas is devastation beyond belief in the wake of the major earthquakes that had their epicentre West of Venezuela’s capital. The deadly earthquake struck in the evening of a national holiday, when many families were at home. The NRC office building in Caracas sustained damage, but thankfully all our staff are safe and accounted for.

“This earthquake will deepen the suffering for millions already in dire need. More than a quarter of the country’s population needed urgent aid even before the earthquakes.

“NRC has been working in Venezuela for more than two decades and will provide emergency relief to the countless families that have lost their homes and property and have seen loved one perish in the rubble. We are currently assessing the most urgent needs and will seek funding from donor nations and the private sector to scale up our support for those most severely stricken.

“The deep suffering of the crisis-engulfed people in Venezuela has been neglected for too long. For the last three years aid workers on the ground have received less than a third of the funding needed for providing even the minimum of humanitarian relief needed. Donors must urgently step up support as this earthquake has become a catastrophe on top of a crisis. There can be no delay in this support. National authorities and the international community must step up their cooperation immediately to provide relief and enable a viable plan for much needed reconstruction.”