At least 26 killed, mostly children, in Papua New Guinea village attacks: UN

At least 26 people, including 16 children, were killed in attacks on three Papua New Guinea villages last week. The UN warns the death toll could surpass 50.

"I am shocked by the deadly violence in Papua New Guinea, apparently as the result of a dispute over land and lake ownership and user rights," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement on Wednesday (July 24).

Turk said the attacks on the villages in East Sepik province on July 16 and 18 had also seen over 200 villagers escape as their homes were torched.

The UN high commissioner urged PNG authorities to conduct prompt, fair, and open investigations and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"It is also very important that victims and their families receive compensations, including adequate housing, effective protection against further attacks and necessary psychosocial support," Turk added.

He also urged authorities "to work and with the affected communities to address the root causes of the disputes in order to prevent recurrence of further violence".

His remarks reiterated a previous plea from his office in February for PNG to tackle the underlying causes of growing tribal conflict. This call came after a particularly brutal clash between rival tribes left dozens dead.

It may be mentioned here, conflicts among 17 tribal groups hadescalated since elections in 2022, over issues including land disputes and clan rivalries, spokesman Jeremy Laurence had said earlier.

People have fought each other in Papua New Guinea for centuries, but an influx of mercenaries and automatic weapons has inflamed the cycle of violence.

At the same time, the country's population has more than doubled since 1980, placing increasing strain on land and resources, and stoking deepening tribal rivalries.

(With inputs from agencies)