By SEPKOLIN WALNE
The Department of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs (DPLGA) has officially launched the country’s first National Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Policy, marking a historic milestone in strengthening national efforts to protect and support citizens affected by disasters, conflict, climate change, and development-related displacement.
PNG continues to face a wide range of complex challenges linked to natural hazards, social unrest, environmental pressures, and large-scale development activities.
While global discourse increasingly focuses on emerging issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence, these realities remain immediate and deeply felt within communities across the country.
In response, the government has taken decisive policy and legislative action to address both the root causes and consequences of internal displacement.
Prime Minister James Marape stressed that the PNG Government was constitutionally mandated to safeguard the socio-economic welfare and rights of its citizens, including those who are internally displaced.
He said the well-being and rights of all citizens, especially those displaced, required special attention.
“This involves developing and implementing community-based durable solutions programs to improve living standards and promote peaceful coexistence, coupled with an appropriate framework for community-based planning, social accountability for transparent resource management l, relocation support and alignment with administrative guidelines.
“As a government, we must address critical questions: how do we ensure protection and better assistance for IDPs and host communities? how do we prevent future displacement crises? and how do we find durable solutions to internal displacement,” Mr Marape said.
Minister for Provincial and Local-level government Affairs Soroi Eoe emphasised that the National IDP Policy reflected the government’s strong commitment to safeguarding the rights and improving the short-and long-term socioeconomic well-being of internally displaced persons.
“It establishes a comprehensive and solutions-oriented framework that prioritises prevention, coordinated response, and sustainable recovery, ensuring affected individuals and communities can rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.
“PNG’s diverse geography and cultural landscape present inherent service delivery challenges, which are further intensified by the escalating impacts of climate change, rising social disorder and socio-economic pressure,” Minister Eoe added.