International donors Tuesday urged South Sudan's warring leaders to make good on peace commitments and allow urgently needed humanitarian relief to be distributed, amid pledges of 600 million dollars for food and medical care, dpa reported. The pledges made in the Norwegian capital Oslo were in response to a UN appeal highlighting the looming crisis in the conflict-stricken nation, the world's youngest. Thousands of people have been killed and some 1.3 million people forced to flee their homes since mid-December when fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar erupted. The conflict has also "a regional dimension," said UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, citing that 300,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Close to 5 million people in South Sudan were in need of humanitarian assistance, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. -- SPA 20:41 LOCAL TIME 17:41 GMT تغريد
