New York, Dhu-AlQa'dah 01, 1437, August 04, 2016, SPA -- At least 73 civilian deaths and 217 rapes have been recorded by the United Nations since renewed clashes broke out last month in South Sudan, a top UN official said Thursday, noting that violence was carried out by both government and opposition forces, according to dpa. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called on the UN Security Council to take action as violence continued in war-torn South Sudan, where renewed fighting erupted on July 9 as the country marked the fifth anniversary of its independence from Sudan. Zeid warned that while some civilians died when they got into crossfire between fighting parties, many people, especially from the Nuer ethnic group, were killed in targeted attacks by government forces. Sexual violence has been rampant as women and girls have been raped and gang raped by both opposition and South Sudanese government forces, which are known as the South Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Zeid expressed concern over reports that UN peacekeepers failed to help women who were reportedly raped close near their positions. The UN was investigating these allegations, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. --SPA 23:44 LOCAL TIME 20:44 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w