Papua New Guinea Violence Kills Dozens, U.N. Official Reports

MELBOURNE, Australia — Clashes between illegal miners in Papua New Guinea have resulted in the deaths of between 20 and 50 people, a United Nations official reported on Monday.

The fighting erupted several days ago and is ongoing in the Porgera Valley, located near the site of a gold mine. This mine has been linked to a significant number of deaths, estimated by the government of Papua New Guinea to exceed 2,000.

Mate Bagossy, the U.N.’s humanitarian adviser for Papua New Guinea, stated that the death toll, at least 20 as of Sunday, is based on information gathered from community members and local authorities in Enga province, situated in the nation’s mountainous interior.

“We have confirmed that at least 20 people have been killed, but as per the last news that I have, it’s likely up to 50 people,” Bagossy told The Associated Press. “The fighting is continuing.”

“Today some security forces have started moving in … so it remains to be seen what effect this will have,” Bagossy said, referring to the army and police.

Bagossy did not possess information regarding the number of individuals wounded.

Papua New Guinea police did not respond to a request on Monday for tallies of dead and wounded in the valley.

David Manning, the National Police Commissioner, declared an emergency on Saturday after the violence intensified. Police have been mobilized to safeguard residents and infrastructure.

“The deteriorating situation has been caused by illegal miners and illegal settlers who are victimizing traditional landowners and using violence to terrorize local communities,” Manning stated in a release.

The nearby New Porgera gold mine has temporarily ceased most of its operations due to the violence, suspending operations until at least Thursday.

“Over the past 24 hours a significant escalation in tribal fighting has impacted many of our local employees. Homes have been destroyed, family and friends injured or killed, and people have been unable to sleep while living in fear,” James McTiernan, New Porgera’s General Manager, said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“I am incredibly saddened by these devastating events and sincerely hope that the government will soon restore peace to the valley,” McTiernan added.

Peter Ipatas, the Governor of Enga, described the violence in the valley as unprecedented.

“This situation is dire. We have witnessed innocent lives being claimed and properties destroyed within days. The current situation can’t continue,” Ipatas said in a statement.

A disaster management team, comprising representatives from the national government and the U.N. Development Program, will convene in the national capital, Port Moresby, on Tuesday to coordinate a humanitarian response in a dangerous and remote region.

Tribal warfare poses a growing security concern throughout Papua New Guinea, and is particularly prevalent in Enga, where recovery has been sluggish since a landslide occurred on May 24.

The United Nations has estimated that 670 villagers perished in the landslide, while the Papua New Guinea government has reported a death toll exceeding 2,000.

An unknown number of refugees from tribal violence in neighboring areas are believed to be among the casualties, further complicating the process of establishing a credible death toll.

Ongoing fighting along the road connecting the disaster area to the provincial capital Wabag has hindered the emergency response. Relief workers have required military escorts to ensure their safety.

 during a recent visit to this majority-Christian nation, estimated to have a population of 12 million.

Four months after the disaster, the main highway traversing the province remains buried beneath the collapsed mountainside.

Heavy earthmoving equipment has not been employed on the vast expanse of boulders, splintered trees, and mud due to concerns of triggering a second landslide, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.

However, a 4.7-kilometer (3-mile) bypass road, designed to be safe from landslides, is partially completed, the IOM reported.

Approximately 5,000 individuals remain within the potential path of a second landslide, in what authorities deem a high-risk zone located downhill from the disaster site.

The provincial government is endeavoring to acquire land outside the danger area to resettle these villagers, but complex negotiations have yet to reach a conclusion, the IOM stated.

Elsewhere in Papua New Guinea on Monday, the nation celebrated its 49th anniversary of independence from neighboring Australia.