The first-ever international humanitarian aid summit, led by the UN, will be held on 23 and 24 May in Istanbul. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Mäntylä will attend the meeting.

The initiative for the World Humanitarian Summit came from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The need for humanitarian aid is greater than ever before and the international community is unable to respond to these needs. 

The global humanitarian situation cannot stay this way. We need closer international cooperation and stronger political intention to improve the situation. Finland wants to join in furthering such a change.

— Prime Minister Juha Sipilä