The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights says nearly two million South Sudanese civilians who are fleeing violence will not return to their homes soon.

She said although the gross violations committed by all parties to the conflict in South Sudan have declined, those civilians who were forced to flee the violence are not likely to return to their homes soon.

In her remarks to a panel discussion on human rights situation in South Sudan held by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday, Flavia Pansieri, said around 100,000 Internally Displaced Persons are now seeking shelter in Protection of Civilians sites within UNMISS compounds.

She said this is an entirely record influx in the history of the UN, and said this phenomenon presents the Mission in South Sudan with unique challenges.

Flavia said the scale and severity of reported violations had declined compared to the first months of the conflict but the country is experiencing extreme food insecurity and facing a possible famine.

The Deputy High Commissioner said the number of civilians displaced from South Sudan has continued to rise.

Flavia recommended that more needs to be done to protect civilians and to ensure accountability for crimes and human rights violations.

She urged the international community to put pressure on the country’s leaders to prevent further violations by forces under their command.

Flavia said it is to be made clear that anyone committing crimes and human rights violations in South Sudan should be arrested and be prosecuted.

However, the South Sudanese Minister of Justice, Paulino Wanawilla Unango, who was one of the lead panelists, said the Government of South Sudan is working to restore stability and peace in the country, particularly in Juba.

He said the government has created a peace building committee that goes out particularly to the I-D-P-s at UNMISS camps to work with them and urge them to return home.

Honorable Paulino Wanawilla said the Government has created a crisis management committee whose job he says amongst other things, is to provide stability to the population by reminding people that the conflict in South Sudan is the result of political fight and not an ethnic one.