A/HRC/RES/S-26/1 and deeply alarmed also by the statement of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide of 11 November 2016 that there is a strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide, in South Sudan, Concerned by ethnically motivated incitement to hatred and violence by all sides, reports of targeting of civilians based on ethnicity, and sexual and gender-based violence becoming increasingly widespread, Deeply alarmed at the escalation of violence in the former State of Central Equatoria, which has resulted in increased flows of refugees into neighbouring countries, Deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, which is marked by increasing fragility in the political, security and economic spheres, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis and atrocities committed since the outbreak of violence in December 2013, acute food insecurity, producing mass displacements within South Sudan and outside the country, access restrictions and other impediments to humanitarian assistance, while commending humanitarian agencies for their continued assistance to the affected populations, and urging all actors concerned to cooperate fully with humanitarian agencies, Noting with grave concern the conclusions of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in its reports dated 8 May 2014 and 4 December 2015 and the report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan of 15 October 2014 that the violations and abuses of human rights and the violations of international humanitarian law that have been committed may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, Recalling that the Government of South Sudan has the primary responsibility to protect all populations in the country from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, Gravely concerned about ongoing reports of increased levels of sexual and genderbased violence and instances of conflict-related rape and gang rape, coupled with beating and abductions, including as reported by the Secretary-General to the Security Council in February 2016,3 and including the sexual and gender-based violence committed against women and girls in July and August 2016 during the outbreak of fighting in Juba, Expressing grave concern at the wholesale destruction of villages, the targeting of civilians and health-care facilities, the attacks on places of worship, the attack on the protection-of-civilians site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal on 17 and 18 February 2016, sexual violence against women exiting protection-of-civilians sites throughout the country, the continued obstruction and extortion of humanitarian assistance convoys and the wholesale looting and destruction of humanitarian compounds in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Unity and Upper Nile States and Juba, Condemning in the strongest terms the violence that broke out between the Government and the armed opposition in early July 2016, and urging all parties to pursue the path of a peaceful resolution to the existing conflict, Condemning in the strongest terms also all attacks against humanitarian personnel and facilities that have resulted in the death of at least 67 humanitarian personnel since December 2013, including the attack on the Terrain compound on 11 July 2016 and attacks against medical workers and facilities, Emphasizing the inviolability of United Nations premises, and underlining that attacks against civilians and United Nations premises may constitute war crimes, 3 2 S/2016/138.