The UN Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until July 31, 2016, while deciding to increase its force levels.

In a resolution adopted here, the 15-nation council said it "decides to increase the force levels of UNMISS up to a ceiling of 13,000 troops and 2,001 police personnel, including individual police officers, formed police units and 78 corrections officers."

The mission would be tasked with supporting the implementation of peace agreement signed by relevant political parties in the world's youngest nation, and meanwhile it is mandated with civilian protection and facilitation of humanitarian assistance, according to the resolution.

UNMISS was established by the council on July 9, 2011, the day when South Sudan became an independent country after decades of civil war between the north and south of Sudan, which ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

World humanitarian agencies have warned that hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese face severe food shortages and an alarming hunger situation after two years of fighting in the country.

According to latest UN figures, some 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes since conflict erupted two years ago in the African state.

Also on Tuesday, the Security Council decided to extend the mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Abyei (UNISFA) until May 15, 2016.

Abyei is a contested region bordering Sudan and South Sudan. The UNISFA mission was created by a Security Council resolution on June 27, 2011 in response to concerns about violence, escalating tensions and population displacement in the weeks before South Sudan became independent from Sudan. Enditem

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