Quantum Simulations Transform Disaster Relief Logistics in UN-Led Global Pilot

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has unveiled a global pilot program deploying quantum computing simulations to overhaul the way humanitarian aid is delivered during disasters. Working with Rigetti Computing and humanitarian logistics NGO FleetAid, the project aims to reduce the time between disaster onset and aid arrival — a critical window where delays often mean the difference between life and death.

The system uses Rigetti’s Aspen-M quantum processors integrated with classical cloud computing to run millions of logistical scenarios in parallel. These simulations take into account infrastructure damage, weather conditions, population displacement patterns, customs and border clearance, fuel availability, and real-time field reports from humanitarian teams.

Traditionally, coordinating large-scale relief requires juggling thousands of constraints and making rapid decisions with incomplete information. “With quantum simulations, we can process the equivalent of decades of disaster logistics experience in minutes,” said Dr. Emmanuel Bertram, OCHA’s Head of Crisis Operations.

During early trials in simulated earthquake and cyclone scenarios, the system improved delivery efficiency by up to 40%, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where conventional route planning models failed. In one test, aid convoys in a simulated South Pacific cyclone scenario reached remote island communities 36 hours earlier than under classical planning.

One of the program’s most notable innovations is its integration with autonomous logistics assets. Drones, amphibious vehicles, and robotic supply loaders are all dynamically coordinated via a hybrid quantum-classical decision engine. This allows the system to adjust mid-operation, redirecting supplies to newly identified critical zones without human delay.

The humanitarian sector’s interest in quantum computing stems from the sheer complexity of disaster logistics. Roads may be blocked, airports closed, and supply depots destroyed, requiring adaptive, multi-modal routing. Quantum optimization can simultaneously evaluate tens of thousands of possible supply chain configurations, factoring in both speed and resilience.

The project also aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), as climate-related disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. By reducing wasted trips and idle time, the system lowers the carbon footprint of aid operations while improving delivery speed.

Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni emphasized that while commercial applications for quantum computing often focus on finance or manufacturing, humanitarian logistics presents a moral imperative: “If quantum technology can help shave hours or days off the delivery of life-saving aid, that’s perhaps its most meaningful application yet.”

The UN plans to deploy the system in live field operations in late 2025, starting with regions prone to seasonal flooding and typhoons. Should the pilot succeed, OCHA envisions a permanent Quantum Humanitarian Logistics Center to serve as a global hub for disaster preparedness modeling.