Women and children are among 26 people killed in attacks on three villages in Papua New Guinea.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk has condemned the “shocking” violence, which he said erupted as part of a dispute over land and lake ownership and use rights, and urged the government to intervene.
It’s believed 16 children are among the dead from the attacks in East Sepik province on July 16 and 18.
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Dozens of people remain missing, having fled from their homes,
“I urge the authorities to conduct prompt, impartial and transparent investigations and to ensure those responsible are held to account,” Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement.
“It is also vital that victims and their families receive reparations, including adequate housing, effective protection against further attacks and necessary psychosocial support.”
He called on local authorities to identify the root causes of the violence to prevent further attacks.
Dozens of people were killed earlier in the year in Enga province.
According to the UN, conflicts among tribal groups over land disputes and clan rivalries have progressively escalated following elections in 2022.
The proliferation of firearms in the region means the clashes turn increasingly deadly.
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