United Nations or UN Secretary-General strongly condemns the escalation of hostilities in the past ten days between the government and the Opposition forces in Unity and Upper Nile States.
Ban Ki-moon is appalled by reports of human rights violations committed by the SPLA and their allied forces, including the burning of villages, killing and raping of civilians during in Unity State.
He deplores the death of four internally displaced persons or IDPs caught in the cross-fire in the protection of civilians site within the UNMISS compound in Melut.
The UN Chief demands immediate conduct of national investigations so that those responsible for the crimes are held accountable by their respective leadership.
He underscores that the fighting is unacceptable and part of series of violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on January 23, 2014 and undermines the ongoing Intergovernmental Authority on Development efforts to find a political solution to the conflict.
Mr Ki-moon calls upon President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar to immediately cease all military operations, reminding them of their obligations to protect civilians under international human rights and humanitarian law.
He urges the parties to respect the inviolability of UNMISS premises, including protection of civilian sites which now host more than 120 thousand IDPs.