Numerous cases of internal displacement due to security force operations in West Papua were reported from the regencies of Mimika, Intan Jaya, Puncak, Lanny Jaya, and Nduga between 2019 and April 2020. These operations against the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN PB) began on 4 December 2018 in Nduga in response to the killing of 19 government contractors and resulted in further armed clashes. Data collected by the ICP show that more than 41,851 indigenous Papuans from these five regencies were internally displaced between 2019 and April 2020. In 2019, 214 of these Papuans reportedly died as a result of sickness, malnutrition, exhaustion, and hypothermia. The COVID-19 outbreak in the region has aggravated this humanitarian crisis.The authorities in West Papua are now expected to impose even greater restrictions on the freedom of movement and freedom of assembly,and it is likely that hospitals, which already lag far behind national care standards, and medical personnel will not be able to cope with the rising number of patients.

International Coalition for Papua (ICP), Foundation for Justice and Integrity of the Papuan People (YKKMP), Papuan Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua), and Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (JPIC Kingmi Papua) The Humanitarian Crisis in West Papua: Internal conflict, the displacement of people, and the coronavirus pandemic (see detail).

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