The first UN-backed World Humanitarian Summit has kicked off in Istanbul on Monday morning local time. Representatives from 175 countries, including over 60 heads of state and government, has taken part in the two-day summit , which aims to consolidate international action to help those affected by conflicts and natural disasters.  

The first UN-backed World Humanitarian Summit has kicked off in Istanbul on Monday morning local time.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a speech on the opening ceremony. With some 60 million people displaced around the world and at least 125 million needing assistance and protection in the worst humanitarian crises since World War II, He called on the summit participants to commit to halving the number of displaced civilians by 2030.

"We created the World Humanitarian Summit in this unique and inclusive format because of the important role that people affected by that crisis, civil society, NGOs and others play in humanitarian action. Over the next two days, the people of world are looking to us for the commitments of five areas," he said.