17 February 2014 - The United Nations has warned against the return of 130,000 South Sudanese who have fled to neighbouring countries due to continued violence in the country.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is recommending that states refrain from sending South Sudanese home unless they are suspected of committing serious human right violations, spokesperson Melissa Fleming told a news briefing in Geneva on 14 February.

“UNHCR's advisory against forced returns to South Sudan remains in effect until security, rule of law and the human rights conditions improve enough to allow for safe and dignified returns,” she said.

The advisory was issued on 13 February, the same day the Security Council called for fully inclusive talks to end the crisis, despite last month's ceasefire accord between government and opposition forces.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and some 870,000 others have been driven from their homes, with 738,000 internally displaced, since fighting broke out on 15 December between the forces of President Salva Kiir and former deputy president Riek Machar.

Talks are currently underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, mediated by the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Ms. Fleming said people fleeing South Sudan are likely to meet the criteria for refugee status under international and regional conventions in light of continuing conflict. She hailed the decision of most regional governments to recognize them as refugees on a prima facie basis.

The refugees have fled primarily to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda. UNHCR welcomes the generous response of these countries and their cooperation with the agency and its humanitarian partners. It called on other countries to do the same and facilitate access for aid.

Some 75,250 people displaced are seeking refuge in or around eight UN bases in South Sudan.

On a related issue, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is warning against recruitment of child soldiers, and has intensified monitoring of the practice throughout the country.

The mission also says overcrowding of protection of civilian sites in the country is a major challenge for the United Nations and humanitarian community. With the rainy season approaching, concern is mounting that these sites will become breeding grounds for disease outbreaks and epidemics.

“To address this, the mission says that the Government of South Sudan has accepted a Chinese donation to build a new protection of civilians site in Juba, adjacent to the UN House,” said Martin Nesirky in New York.

Construction of the site, with assistance of the UN Office for Project Services, has already begun, and is expected to be completed before the start of the rainy season.

Emergency funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund has been made available for this project.

Additionally, UN House, which hosts some 15,000 civilians, will also be expanded.