UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The intercommunal conflict in South Sudan's Jonglei State has ratcheted up, leaving displaced civilians urgently in need of food, water, shelter and healthcare, UN humanitarians said Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said fighting has intensified across northern and central Jonglei State, leading to large-scale displacement, limiting aid delivery and triggering a shutdown of essential services. Road and river traffic is blocked, and humanitarian flights have been barred.

"The displacements are driving up the risk of cholera spreading, 55 cases and seven deaths reported in a week in Ayod and Duk counties," OCHA said. "Since 28 September 2024, South Sudan has recorded more than 98,000 cholera cases and more than 1,600 deaths across nine states. The transmission of cholera is likely to intensify ahead of the rainy season if humanitarian teams and supplies continue to be restricted."

Over the weekend, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Anita Gbeho called on all parties to "stop fighting, protect civilians and humanitarian workers and stop attacks on humanitarian assets."

Since late December, local authorities have reported that renewed violence and airstrikes have uprooted an estimated 280,000 people. ■