South Sudan starving as violence grows

The United Nations Security Council has called on the world to reach out to help South Sudan as the food crisis in the country grows.

The council said the food insecurity situation in the African nation was "the worst in the world" with millions facing starvation.

Increasing violence is also wreaking havoc in the country, which the council said could soon reach the "threshold of famine".

The council called on member states including Australia to fulfill a collective pledge of $618 million to help the troubled nation.

"The members of the Security Council called upon on all parties to respect and protect civilian populations," the council said in a statement.

The UN also condemned the recent surge in fighting.

"They stressed that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law must be brought to justice and that the fight against impunity is a fundamental element of reconciliation," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council also expressed alarm regarding reports that both parties were recruiting children."

Australia is home to a small South Sudanese community of refugees and immigrants, largely grouped in Melbourne and Sydney.