The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says both sides to the conflict in South Sudan are recruiting children into their forces.

In his latest report to the U.N. Security Council yesterday, Mr Ban said the warring parties are also restricting the work of U.N. peacekeepers.

He said the leaders have failed the people by putting personal ambitions first.

“Should the parties fail to show willingness to compromise, and continue giving priority to military confrontation, those responsible will have to face the consequences,” Ban wrote, noting that the U.N. Security Council in February established a sanctions regime for South Sudan.

IGAD mediators are yet to announce a date for the resumption of the talks.

He called on “President Kiir and Riek Machar to cease all military operations immediately, release all children mobilized within their ranks and engage in meaningful dialogue on all outstanding issues towards the establishment of a transitional government of national unity.”

About 1.5 million people had been displaced in South Sudan, while a further 500,000 have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.

Some 2.5 million people do not have enough to eat and more than 4 million need water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict. Over 12,000 UN peacekeeping troops and police are in South Sudan.