UNICEF urges more government attention to ongoing situation in East Sepik

PORT MORESBY, 19 August 2024 – UNICEF is calling on the Government of Papua New Guinea to step up efforts in support of remote communities, as survivors of the 17 July massacre in the north of the country struggle to get their lives back on track.

At least 26 people including 11 children died last month when about 30 men with guns, knives and homemade projectiles attacked two river villages in East Sepik province.

Currently living in temporary care centres in Angoram or with relatives, 395 survivors including 220 children are homeless as their houses were destroyed in the attack.

They are facing critical shortages in health services, clean water, and food security. Immediate support is needed to provide mobile clinics, safe shelter, and essential tools.

According to UNICEF, the situation is further compounded by the harsh living conditions in temporary care centres, where access to clean water and basic sanitation is severely limited and there is additional protection risks especially for women and girls.

Children and families are also grappling with inconsistent food supplies, which are not reaching isolated areas like Magendo, Kakasiro, Kopse, and Ambamin.

Under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Howard, UN agencies including UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Organization for Migration IOM, and humanitarian partners are working together to bring immediate relief.

Within 48 hours after the massacre, UNICEF delivered 100 hygiene kits and deployed a specialised team to provide psychosocial support to traumatised survivors.

The work of supporting survivors with trained teams of UNICEF and UNFPA psychosocial counsellors is ongoing and includes supporting the capacity building of community volunteers.

More help is on the way, with UNICEF sending tents, as well as school-in-a-box kits, recreational kits, and additional health supplies. However, UNICEF Papua New Guinea representative Angela Kearney said any relief efforts would be short-lived if the authorities failed to address underlying issues. She said much more needed to be done.

Illiteracy, violence, and malnutrition are among the myriad of issues that Kearney says are robbing thousands of young people in Papua New Guinea of their future.

“The Government of Papua New Guinea must take decisive action now to ensure these communities are not left behind in the long run,” Kearney said.

Police said the massacre related to a series of unsolved murders, leadership disputes and family feuds in the villages that date back more than a decade.

Tensions in the area remain high as several alleged perpetrators remain at large and family connections have led to deep mistrust and animosity among survivors.

Kearney said UNICEF was looking forward to continuing working together with the Government of Papua New Guinea and local authorities to improve the situation in the country.

“These people need more than immediate relief—they need long-lasting solutions that promote peace and empower them to build back better together,” she said.