At least 26 people have been killed in violent attacks on three villages in Papua New Guinea last week, according to the UN. 16 of the dead are reported to be children.
"I am horrified by the outbreak of deadly violence in Papua New Guinea, apparently a consequence of disputes over ownership and usage rights to land and water", says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in a statement.
Over 200 villagers also fled when their homes were set on fire, he added.
The UN urges the authorities to conduct impartial and thorough investigations into how it could happen, and address the root causes of the conflicts.
Conflicts between 17 different rival groups in Papua New Guinea have escalated since the 2022 election. An increased number of mercenaries and automatic weapons have further worsened the situation.
