Papua New Guinea village attacks kill dozens, mostly children: UN

At least 26 people were killed, including 16 children, during violent attacks on three Papua New Guinea villages last week, the United Nations has said, warning the final death toll could pass 50.

"I am horrified by the shocking eruption of deadly violence in Papua New Guinea, seemingly 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.

He said the attacks on the three villages in East Sepik province on July 16 and 18 had also seen more than 200 villagers flee "as their homes were torched".

The UN high commissioner for human rights called on PNG authorities "to conduct prompt, impartial and transparent investigations and to ensure those responsible are held to account".

"It is also vital that victims and their families receive reparations, including adequate housing, effective protection against further attacks and necessary psychosocial support," he said.

Root causes

Turk also urged authorities "to work in and with the affected communities to address the root causes of land and lake disputes, and so prevent recurrence of further violence".

His comments echoed a call made by his office back in February calling on PNG to address the root causes of escalating tribal violence in the country after dozens were killed in a particularly violent clash between rival tribes.

Conflicts among 17 tribal groups had progressively escalated since elections in 2022 over issues including land disputes and clan rivalries, spokesman Jeremy Laurence said at the time.

Clans 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.