Leaders of world's powers should gather together and strive for political solutions to humanitarian crises, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.

The UN chief addressed the closing press briefing of the World Humanitarian Summit, hailing the event and its achievement, but also expressing his disappointment about the absence of some leaders.

"So far, over 400 member states, organizations and groups have made altogether 1,500 commitments at the summit," he said. "But it's disappointing that some world leaders could not be here, especially those from G7 countries except Chancellor Angela Merkel."

The two-day World Humanitarian Summit opened Monday in Istanbul. About 5,200 participants, including 65 heads of state and government and representatives from crisis-affected communities, NGOs, the private sectors and UN agencies, attended the summit.

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