The United Nations security council has expressed its disappointment at the failure of South Sudan parties to reach an agreement that would bring a lasting solution to the ongoing conflict
The 15-member body underscored the seriousness and urgency of the situation on the ground in South Sudan and reiterated its strong condemnation of the repeated violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, accepted and signed by both the Government and opposition forces last year.
Peace talks held in Ethiopia, brokered by the east African regional bloc IGAD, have resulted in a string of broken ceasefires, and the last round of talks collapsed on March 7.
Since then, both sides have confirmed the outbreak of fresh fighting on several fronts in the oil-rich north of the country.
The Security Council has repeatedly threatened both sides with sanctions since the peace talks failed, although none has yet been imposed.
However it has reiterated its intent to impose sanctions on both parties in order to push all parties to form a Transitional Government of National Unity and to take effective and comprehensive steps to end military operations and all acts of violence.
The current situation in South Sudan has deteriorated steadily over the past year since political in-fighting between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President, Riek Machar, and their respective factions erupted in December 2013.
The hostilities subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict that sent nearly 100,000 civilians fleeing to UN bases around the country.
The crisis has dispalaced an estimated 1.9 million people and risked the lives of anbother 7 million who are faced with hunger and disease.
Currently, UN bases are sheltering over 110,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) with an additional 1.5 million others displaced throughout the country and 500,000 outside the country.
