The UN chief's special adviser on genocide prevention has warned of a "high risk of crimes against humanity and of genocide" in the Central African Republic.

Adama Dieng and other UN officials briefed the Security Council on Wednesday on the continuing and unprecedented violence between Christians and Muslims in the country.

More than half the country's 4.6 million people need assistance, according to the UN, and nearly one million have fled their homes.

The officials spoke of children being beheaded, entire villages burned and a complete breakdown of law and order, and they urged the deployment of more peacekeepers as soon as possible.

"The level of hatred between these communities shocked me," Dieng said, listing widespread reports of summary executions, mutilation and sexual violence among the "widespread and massive" human rights violations.

Restoring peace will be difficult "without addressing the current culture of impunity," he added.

PHOTO CAPTION

Personnel from the African Union peacekeeping mission to Central African Republic (MISCA) control a fighting crowd near the airport, in the capital Bangui December 28, 2013.

Al-Jazeera