In Papua New Guinea's highlands, a recent wave of tribal fighting has left about 70 people dead, while thousands have fled their homes and many villages have been burnt to the ground. Police are trying to escalate their response, but say they're outgunned by armed tribes.
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00:00 Right throughout this region are the remnants of homes like this one that have been burnt
00:06 to the ground during this latest bout of tribal fighting.
00:10 It's extending across quite a large area here along a stretch of highway where many tribes
00:15 have gotten involved.
00:20 Tribal fighting has been rife in Enga since the national election last year, but it's
00:23 flared up in recent months.
00:26 The violence here has been a series of escalating retribution attacks between two tribes and
00:31 their allies in the area.
00:33 Police say more than 60 people have been killed so far.
00:37 What makes tribal fights now so different to the past is the use of high-powered guns
00:42 that are making their way into villages, as well as young men who are willing to act as
00:45 mercenaries to make money.
00:47 Police believe more than two dozen men acting as hired guns have died in this bout of tribal
00:52 fighting so far.
00:53 There used to be a lot of houses, very permanent houses, semi-permanent houses.
01:00 Now we don't see them any longer.
01:03 These villages being burnt down means thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.
01:09 Our village was destroyed by fire, no homes are left, gardens destroyed, and we are suffering.
01:16 Nothing to wear, no blankets to keep warm, nothing at all.
01:20 Police are targeting the source of guns and ammunition being smuggled into the region,
01:25 alleging businessmen and leaders from some of the tribes are funding the fighting.
01:30 Police are also working to send more officers up to Enger Province, including a new tactical
01:36 force.
01:37 The province's governor has renewed his calls for the national government to ask Australian
01:43 police to help with the efforts on the ground.
01:46 [BLANK_AUDIO]