Fighting among illegal miners in Papua New Guinea’s Porgera Valley has resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, with the toll possibly reaching 50, according to Mate Bagossy, the U.N.’s humanitarian adviser for the region.
The violence erupted several days ago near the site of a May landslide, which the government estimated claimed over 2,000 lives.
Baggosy noted that information from local authorities and community members had confirmed the death toll, and security forces, including police and the army, were beginning to intervene. “The fighting is ongoing,” Bagossy told The Associated Press.
An escalation in violence among illegal miners in Papua New Guinea has led to a state of emergency, with authorities mobilizing security forces to protect local communities.
National Police Commissioner David Manning said the unrest, driven by illegal miners and settlers targeting traditional landowners, has terrorized the region.
While no official numbers on casualties have been released, UN humanitarian adviser Mate Bagossy confirmed at least 20 deaths, possibly up to 50, though no information on the injured has been provided.
Due to the ongoing conflict, the nearby New Porgera gold mine has suspended most operations until later in the week.
“The tribal fighting has severely impacted local employees, with homes destroyed, and people living in constant fear,” said New Porgera General Manager James McTiernan on Sunday.
McTiernan expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing violence and urged the government to restore peace in the valley. Enga Governor Peter Ipatas called the situation unprecedented, noting the tragic loss of innocent lives and widespread destruction of property. He emphasized that the current circumstances cannot continue.
A disaster management team, led by the national government and the U.N. Development Program, is set to meet in Port Moresby on Tuesday to organize a humanitarian response in the challenging and remote region.
Tribal warfare has become a major security issue in Papua New Guinea, particularly in Enga, where recovery from the May 24 landslide has been slow.
The U.N. estimated 670 deaths, while the Papua New Guinea government reported over 2,000 people had been buried.
The presence of refugees from neighboring areas complicates efforts to establish an accurate death toll.
Ongoing clashes along the route from the disaster zone to Wabag, the provincial capital, have delayed emergency efforts, with relief workers requiring military escorts for protection.
During a recent visit, Pope Francis urged an end to tribal violence in the predominantly Christian country of 12 million people.
Four months after the landslide, the main highway remains blocked by debris, with no heavy equipment used to avoid triggering another collapse, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). However, a 4.7-kilometer bypass road is halfway complete and deemed safer.
Around 5,000 people remain at risk in the high-danger zone below the landslide area. Efforts to resettle them are ongoing, with the provincial government negotiating to purchase safer land, though no final agreement has been reached, the IOM said.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea marked 49 years of independence from Australia on Monday.
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