UN 'outrage' at violence against civilians in S. Sudan

NEW YORK

The United Nations humanitarian chief on Wednesday expressed outrage at violence against civilians in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation beset by instability.

Stephen O'Brien completed a three-day visit to the African country and issued a statement on his findings on Wednesday.

It said O'Brien was "outraged by the acts of violence that have been committed against civilians, including by members of the armed forces", calling for "swift and decisive action to halt these abuses and bring the perpetrators to account.

He also condemned attacks against aid workers, urging leaders to take a stance against such "wholly unacceptable" violations.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. It is an extremely diverse country, home to dozens of ethnic groups, with a population of about 11 million people.

A civil war borne out of a political struggle in 2013 displaced more than 2 million people before abating in 2015, but instability persisted.

More than half of South Sudan's population -- some 6.1 million people -- are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN estimates.

An estimated 4.8 million people are severely food insecure across the country, with a quarter of a million children facing severe acute malnutrition.