DUBAI - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday urged more global efforts to bridge a gap in humanitarian aid funding that reached 15 billion U.S. dollars.

Ban's remarks came as he was to present a report by the a UN High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing during a visit to Dubai on Sunday.

The report states that in 2016 more than 125 million women, men and children across the world will need humanitarian assistance just to survive.

The UN chief urged the international community to remove the hindrances for more humanitarian funding to help the most needy people like refugees and victims of natural disasters.

Meanwhile, Ban welcomed the lifting of sanctions against Iran as part of a landmark nuclear deal reached between world powers and Tehran last year.

The implementation of the deal marks "a new chapter of dialogue" between the Islamic republic and the U.S., he said.

He also lauded the release of U.S. detainees by Iran, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, in a swap deal. (Xinhua)