The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for another six months.

It cites “grave alarm about the further deteriorating political, security and humanitarian crisis” in South Sudan, reported the UN website.

The mission will maintain the operation’s mandate to focus on civilian protection, facilitation of relief assistance, and human rights monitoring.

In an adopted resolution, the Council decided to extend the Mission until 30 May 2015, the Council also requested UNMISS to focus and streamline its activities, across its military, police and civilian components.

In the resolution, the Council also demanded that the Government of South Sudan and all relevant parties fully cooperate in UNMISS’ deployment, operations and monitoring, verification and reporting functions.

Further, the resolution calls upon the Government to ensure freedom of movement for internally displaced persons.