At least 26 killed in Papua New Guinea village attacks, including 16 children

UN says it is ‘horrified’ by violence in three villages in East Sepik province as it warns death toll could pass 50

At least 26 people were killed, including 16 children, during violent attacks on three Papua New Guinea villages last week, according to the UN, which warned that the final death toll could pass 50.

“I am horrified by the shocking eruption of deadly violence in Papua New Guinea, seemingly as the result of a dispute over land and lake ownership and user rights,” UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk said in a statement on Wednesday.