United Nations ramps up response as 200 survivors seek refuge after PNG East Sepik massacre – July 2024

Port Moresby, 29 July 2024: Nearly 200 survivors of the massacre that killed dozens of women and children in a remote part of Papua New Guinea (PNG) have found refuge in the town of Angoram as the United Nations escalate their emergency response.

More than 50 people were reportedly slaughtered in an outburst of violence following an alleged land dispute in the Sepik River villages of Tamara, Tambari, and Agrumara on 17 July.

As of now, 88 households have been displaced and are living in six temporary care centers. The total number of individuals, disaggregated by sex and age, is still being finalized. The displaced families are currently sheltered in six temporary care centers. The immediate needs of these families continue to be food, hygiene kits for women and children, non-food items such as bedding and clothing, water, shelter (including camps and child-friendly spaces), child protection, gender-based violence and mental health and psychosocial services, and education. According to local government officials, five perpetrators of the massacre have been apprehended, while at least another 20 remain at large, causing continued fear in the community.

Condemning the deadly violence, United Nations Resident Coordinator Mr. Richard Howard reiterated his call on the authorities to hold the perpetrators to account no matter what.

“Peace is the first prerequisite for progress,” Mr. Howard said. “Violence is never the answer and will only exacerbate the problems that are already there,” he added.

Mr. Howard added that it is now up to the authorities to deliver justice for the victims, bring rival parties back to the negotiation table, and avoid further bloodshed.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has received reports of five unaccompanied children in Angoram whose parents have been killed or gone missing.

UNICEF PNG Representative Ms. Angela Kearney said, a specialised team was on the ground to identify the children and provide adequate care, including much-needed psychosocial support.

“Words can’t describe the horrors these poor children have witnessed,” Ms Kearney said. “Advanced psychosocial support is absolutely essential to prevent lifelong scars,” she added. According to Ms. Kearney, more help is on the way, including tents to provide shelter for families who have nothing to go back to since huts were burned down, and livelihoods destroyed.

While assessment is ongoing, the United Nations continues to provide critical support. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is leading the registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and providing camp coordination, shelter, non-food items, and emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) supplies.

“As law enforcement is working towards containing the situation, IOM is moving quickly to bring aid to the affected communities as swiftly as access permits,” said Mr. Serhan Aktoprak, Chief of Mission, IOM. “We are collaborating closely with other UN agencies, as well as national and international partners.”

Furthermore, UNICEF is supplying hygiene kits, high-performance tents, recreational kits, and registration services for unaccompanied and separated children, as well as establishing child friendly spaces and providing mental health and psychosocial services and gender-based violence services and referrals.

The UN Humanitarian Advisory Team (UN HAT) is coordinating with local authorities and partners to conduct joint rapid needs assessments. Additionally, the Australian NGO Living Child, with support from UNICEF, is helping to establish child-friendly spaces in the Catholic Community Center and provide psychosocial services.

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Mr. Richard Howard, UN Resident Coordinator (richard.howard@un.org; +675 7969 8118)

Ms. Angela Kearney, UNICEF Representative (akearney@unicef.org; +675 7100 0370)

Mr. Serhan Aktoprak, IOM Chief of Mission (saktoprak@IOM.INT)