Tuesday, September 06, 2022

Conflicts out of the news

 In Papua New Guinea, conflict and election-related violence, has caused more than 15,000 people to be internally displaced in Hela, Southern Highlands and Enga provinces, according to the International Organization for Migration. Violence began in May, before the general election in July, and has continued through August 2022. Clashes during the several-day period of the election were the most severe. While the violence is directly related to the general election in most areas, in some places, long-standing issues, including land disputes, retribution, and unsettled disputes between clans, have reignited conflicts during a time of instability.

In Porgera, Laiagam, and Kompiam districts from Enga province, Margarima district from Hela province, and Nipa district from Southern Highland Province, almost half of the total population (264,590 people or 49,175 households) have been affected by the ongoing conflict and election-related violence.

In Enga, it is estimated that 25,700 school-aged children are unable to attend school and are facing a range of vulnerabilities. The direct impact of this violence is a surge in trauma cases, particularly among victims of violence, including sexual violence.

The closing of health centres due to attacks or the absence of staff will also result in almost 558,000 people having no access to health care. Persons who require long-term treatment, such as HIV and tuberculosis patients, and people with non-communicable diseases, will not be able to access the medication they need for indefinite periods.

IOM scales up response to displaced communities in Papua New Guinea - Papua New Guinea | ReliefWeb

No comments: