"We are in transitional phase with many uncertainties, but things are much better than we think."

He points out that the international community needs to rethink the way it is dealing with migration, which will increase in the future as a result of climate and other changes. Despite the endless suffering and conflicts in many parts of the world, he believes that on average the human race has never had it better than it is today.

60 million people across the world are displaced by war, violence and environmental disaster. The civil war in Syria has forced 11 million from their homes. Four million have sought sanctuary in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, and over one million refugees fled to Europe last year. What have been the UN measures so far?

The number of refuges around the world has increased by 24 percent to 20 million from the...