President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer on Thursday warned about the devastating effects of continued violence on civilians in South Sudan.

"The number of hungry and displaced South Sudanese is overwhelming", Maurer said, adding that of the country's population of 12 million, one in three residents has been displaced, while one in two is severely hungry and in need of food assistance, ABC news quoted Maurer as saying.

After his visit to South Sudan, the president will head to Uganda which comprises about one million refugees from South Sudan, according to UN assessments.

During his visit to Uganda, Maurer is scheduled to meet with its President Yoweri Museveni.

The UN earlier urged the international community to offer more humanitarian aid to the South Sudanese refugees.

There are an estimated 2 million people have fled across South Sudan’s borders and 2 million more are internally displaced.

Source : Mena