UN Papua New Guinea Advocacy Note: Promoting Safe and Dignified Relocations and Parameters for Managing Risks - August 2024

The landslide in the Maip Mulitaka region of Enga Province, Papua New Guinea on May 24, 2024 caused significant damage and fatalities, impacting approximately 9,900 individuals from 1,990 households. Of these, 1,680 individuals from 348 households displaced. In response, the United Nations (UN) in Papua New Guinea has provided lifesaving assistance to affected communities, including the provision of food assistance, shelter kits, non-food items, health support and mental health and psychosocial assistance to affected households, in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC).

Following the Enga Provincial Government – Provincial Disaster Committee’s “Declaration of Mass Evacuation” on 6 June 2024, the UN acknowledges the risks posed by future natural hazard-induced disasters in the Enga Province and the Government of Papua New Guinea’s recommendation for evacuation and relocation to avoid further human, material, and economic losses. The UN recognizes the commitment of the Government of Papua New Guinea to protect the rights and safety of all its citizens, including their right to achieve durable solutions to their current displacement. 

The UN is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout all phases of displacement, including relocation where return-to-areas-of-origin is not feasible. The UN affirms its support to all efforts which bring an end to displacement and promote lasting solutions for displaced persons where the conducive conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified relocation are in place. In efforts to ensure relocation interventions centralize the protection of civilians through rights based dignified interventions that uphold the physical, material, and legal safety of affected individuals, and in adherence to international human rights law, humanitarian principles, and in contribution to the UN Secretary General Action Agenda on internal displacement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Papua New Guinea under the auspices of the UN in Papua New Guinea  here by recommends the following safeguarding guidelines in order for relocations to be considered principled, in adherence to international human rights law, humanitarian principles, and in contribution to the UN Secretary General Action Agenda on internal displacement:

1. Voluntariness: Relocations should be undertaken voluntarily, without any form of coercion or inducements such as withholding aid or arbitrary detention.
2. Informed Consent: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) must be provided with comprehensive information regarding relocation areas, available services, and overall plans well in advance to make informed decisions.
3. Non-Discrimination: All services and support should be provided impartially, ensuring equal treatment regardless of ethnic or tribal identity.
4. Safety and Compliance: Relocations must prioritize the physical, material and legal safety of IDPs, comply with legal standards, and ensure equal access to essential services.
5. Dignity: Human dignity must be upheld throughout the relocation process, allowing IDPs to make choices and ensuring accountability.
6. Inclusive Processes: Community involvement and consultations are crucial, considering the rights and needs of both IDPs and host communities.

7. Safety Measures: Special measures should be implemented to safeguard the safety and security of IDPs, especially in areas prone to conflicts, to prevent harm and further tensions.

    

The UN stands ready to support in mainstreaming the aforementioned guidelines during all phases of relocation: prior to relocation, during, and after. A coordinated and facilitated relocation abiding by the above safeguarding principles and practices, will enable a people-centred, inclusive, and participatory process, allowing all affected population and host communities to improve, or at minimum, maintain their living standards and opportunities and mitigate adverse impacts of relocation.