Intensified violence in West Papua has left 100,000 people displaced – Rev Bhagwan

More than 100,000 West Papuans have been displaced due to the intensified violence in the country and the Pacific Conference of Churches is calling on Pacific Island Leaders to step up on its security framework in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific.

Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary Reverend James Bhagwan says the increasing number of casualties of West Papuans is hard to determine because no humanitarian agencies, NGOs or journalists are allowed to enter the region and report back.

He says when church workers were prevented by security forces from visiting villages to see the internally displaced people, this is exacerbated by the tied humanitarian situation, particularly for women and children, as well as the elderly and people with disabilities.

Rev Bhagwan also highlighted that COVID-19 and climate change remind the people of the need for an expanded concept of security that is inclusive of human security, humanitarian assistance, prioritizing environment security and regional cooperation and building resilience to disasters and climate change.