In his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the Islamic State poses "a serious threat to international order" and pledged $50 million in emergency humanitarian assistance in the Middle East.

World leaders have gathered in New York at a crucial time; the international community is grappling with three major issues — the Islamic State extremist group, the Ukraine crisis and the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

"What is important now is preventing extremism from taking root while also responding swiftly to the region's humanitarian crises," Abe said.