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The United Nations Security Council has asked for an urgent investigation into the ethnic massacre of hundreds of people in Unity State capital Bentiu.

The Council has also expressed its willingness to “take additional measures” if there are more attacks on civilians.

The 15-member council said in a statement on Thursday that it wants U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for human rights, Ivan Simonovic, to return to South Sudan as soon as possible to assess the recent escalation in violence.

Security Council members are considering sanctions on South Sudan’s warring parties.

On Wednesday, the U.N. peacekeeping chief, Herve Ladsous, demanded that “serious consequences” be imposed to force an end to the violence.

The Council demanded that President Salva Kiir, Dr. Riek Machar and other leaders demonstrate leadership by publicly stating that any and all attacks on civilians are unacceptable.

On Thursday, the U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, called on East African leaders to express support for their attempts to mediate a South Sudan peace deal through the IGAD regional bloc.