A coalition of civil society groups appealed to African leaders to do all they could to end the violence and restore peace to the people of South Kordofan and Blue Nile in Sudan.
The appeal came on the eve of the next African Union (AU) meeting on the Sudan.
Thirty-one group representing 350 African civil societies said in a statement that the war raging between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-N for over 18 months cannot be allowed to claim more lives and endanger the chances of peace in the wider region.
They called for resolute action and strong leadership.
The statement said nearly one million people are already affected and the situation is getting worse as both parties launch new dry season offensives including intense and indiscriminate aerial bombing of civilian areas by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The text added that 700,000 people in the SPLM-N-controlled areas, mainly women, children and the elderly, have little or no access to food, water, sanitation or healthcare.
The civil society broad coalition urged African leaders to take decisive and firm action to demand an end to the violence and avoid losing a generation of children by war.
The signatories demanded a cessation of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian assistance for all civilians in need, and direct talks between the two parties to peacefully resolve their long-standing grievances