More than 50 people in three villages in East Sepik province – Tamara, Tambari and Agrumara – are believed to have died following a land dispute that broke out on July 17.
Nearly 200 people have found shelter in Angoram town and displaced families are living in six temporary care centres, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) said. speak this week.
Their urgent needs remain food, hygiene kits for women and children, and non-food items such as bedding, clothing, water and shelter. They also need child protection, education, gender-based violence and mental health services, as well as psychosocial support.
‘Violence is never the answer’
Local government officials reported that five perpetrators of the massacre have been arrested, while at least 20 others are still at large, causing continued fear in the community, the UN country team said.
Richard Howard, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, condemned the violence and reiterated calls for authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
“Peace is the first prerequisite for progress,” he said. “Violence is never the answer and will only exacerbate existing problems.”
Land ownership was also blamed for another attack in the Papua New Guinea highlands in February that left at least 26 people dead.
At that time, the United Nations human rights office, OHCHR, noted that “conflict between 17 tribal groups has gradually escalated since the 2022 elections over a range of issues including land disputes and tribal rivalries”.
More aid is on the way
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received reports of five unaccompanied children in Angoram whose parents have been killed or gone missing.
UNICEF representative Angela Kearney said a team of experts was on the scene to identify the children and provide care, including psychosocial support.
More aid will be sent, she added, including tents for families whose huts were burned down and livelihoods destroyed.
The United Nations continues to provide vital support, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) takes the lead in registering displaced people, in addition to providing refugee camp coordination, shelters, non-food items and emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
For its part, UNICEF is providing hygiene kits, high-performance tents, recreation kits and registration services for unaccompanied and separated children. The agency is also setting up child-friendly spaces and providing mental health and psychosocial services, as well as gender-based violence services and referrals.
The UN humanitarian advisory team is working with local authorities and partners to conduct rapid needs assessments.
Additionally, Australian non-governmental organization (NGO) Living Child, supported by UNICEF, is helping to establish child-friendly spaces at a community center and providing psychosocial services.
