Papua New Guinea’s police have been authorized to use “lethal force” to restore order amid escalating violence between rival tribes in the Porgera Valley, where conflicts over mining rights have resulted in the deaths of an estimated 20 to 50 people.

The unrest, which has involved hundreds of tribal warriors, intensified following an attack by unauthorized miners on a local landowner in August.

Police reported that about 30 individuals had been killed from both clans, with many women and children displaced and homes destroyed.

UN humanitarian adviser Mate Bagossy noted the significant casualties, highlighting the precarious situation as security forces begin to deploy.

Police Commissioner David Manning emphasized the authorities’ stance on violence, warning that any threats or weapon displays will be met with deadly force, Al-Jazeera has reported.

In response to the unrest, alcohol sales have been banned and a nighttime curfew has been imposed, with plans to remove illegal miners from the area.

The situation has been further exacerbated by the proliferation of automatic weapons, making tribal conflicts increasingly lethal.

Written by B.C. Begley