Battles are short and intense but reaching a ceasefire or peace agreement can take months or years - many fights remain 'frozen' with no active fighting for long stretches. However, in recent years, ICRC has noticed a new trend - fights started by youths have done so against the advice of older clansmen and the owner of the fight, whose preference is for mediation.įights in the Highlands are unpredictable. He is responsible for calling the start and end of the fight. If the grievance is held by a woman, often an elder male relative would be 'the owner of the fight' on her behalf. Once the decision to fight is made, traditionally the man with the grievance is considered 'the owner of the fight' and the entire clan is expected to support him. The cause of a fight ranges from complex electoral outcomes or generational land disputes, to the simple souring of relationships, or a misunderstanding after an altercation. The clan's decision to escalate in response to a grievance is one made out of kinship and solidarity. In the Highlands, clans take up arms against each other to defend their pride and interests. Finally, the introduction of modern weapons and methods of warfare have led to more brutal outcomes. With more outside communications, traditional elders and leaders are losing their stabilising influence. Further, as PNG modernises, traditional cultural and tribal structures are rapidly changing.

Few opportunities and limited employment in the region push many youths towards violence. In the ICRC's experience, the Highlands have an even higher proportion of youth. While tribal fighting is not new to PNG or the Highlands, several factors have made the situation worse in the last 20 years.įor one, more than 50 percent of the nation's population is under the age of 24. On top of immediate needs, the impact of violence remains even after the fighting has stopped - fleeing villagers are often displaced for months or even years. Regrettably, at times sexual violence occurs during these fights. The Highlands' limited access to healthcare only adds to the anguish. Many are wounded or killed during these intense battles. Unfortunately, the civilians who do not participate in the fights are the ones who bear the brunt of the violence. By taking over the enemy's land, the occupying party is better positioned during future peace and compensation negotiations. Fights generally take place in or around remote villages without access to medical assistance or law enforcement. The aim is simple – to destroy the enemy, mentally and physically. While this number is tiny in comparison to other places where the ICRC operates like Syria and Yemen, these fights have considerable effects on Highland communities. In 2021, approximately 30,000 people were displaced by communal violence in the areas in which the ICRC operates. Since 2012, the ICRC has responded to tribal violence in PNG's Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

While only four kilometres in the Torres Strait/Zenadth Kes separate Australia and PNG, an understanding of the struggles faced by our next-door neighbours is distant for most Australians. This is the usual response I get when I tell people about the work the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) undertakes in PNG alongside the PNG Red Cross. Content warning: This article mentions sexual violence.

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