UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday called on the international community to act on global compact to ensure safe, regular and orderly migration.

In his message on the International Migrants Day which falls on Sunday, Ban said this has been a turbulent year for refugees and migrants due to continued devastating effect of armed conflict on civilians.

He noted thousands of people have lost their lives in transit in the Mediterranean and elsewhere; in addition, migrants and refugees are being alienated and blamed for ills of society.

Therefore, Ban called on governments to build on their commitments to govern large movements of refugees and migrants in a way that is people centered and rooted in fundamental human rights.

The total number of international migrants has increased from an estimated 175 million in 2000 to 244 million persons in 2015. One of every ten migrants is under the age of 15, according to the UN.

In September, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants to enhance protection of refugees and migrants.

The Declaration reaffirms the importance of the international protection regime and represents a commitment by UN member states to strengthen and enhance mechanisms to protect people on the move.

The International Migrants Day is observed annually on Dec. 18 to celebrate the role of migrants and the contribution that migration brings to development.