United Nations has confirmed that at least 166 civilians have died in clashes in South Sudan’s far north over the past  4months, urging the government to act swiftly to end the violence.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reiterated that thousands of people in Upper Nile state have sought shelter in swamps to escape the bloodshed, amid reports of civilians being raped, kidnapped or murdered.

UN said the violence has displaced over 20,000 people since August, citing reports of random shooting of civilians.