(UN News) – With the Security Council renewing its call on all parties in strife-torn South Sudan to end the violence, protect civilians and ease access for relief workers, the wider United Nations organization today continued its efforts to help alleviate the “extremely volatile” situation by moving to reinforce peacekeepers and scale up its humanitarian response. Displaced populations, the majority of whom were women and children, faced desperate shortages of food, water and safe sanitation facilities, according to UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado. UNICEF also expressed concern about children separated from their parents, some in the dash to safety and others in the confusion of crowded camps. The UN agency is also concerned that the current mobilization and recruitment to both sides could attract children under 18 years of age.
