In June 2024, MSF started setting up a project in the province of Jiwaka, Papua New Guinea, aiming to improve access to care for survivors of violence from tribal fights, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), domestic violence, election-related and sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) in collaboration with the health authorities. The growing incidence of inter-community and sexual violence in the Highlands region has attracted the attention of MSF teams as access to healthcare services for victims of violence is uneven, particularly in areas that are particularly difficult to reach. Jiwaka province has limited health structures spread across rugged mountainous terrain, making health care delivery difficult to its rural and remote populations, and putting them in a precarious situation.



Tribal fighting is common in different parts of the country, especially the Highlands Region where clans and tribes have fought each other for centuries due to land, livestock and gender-based disputes. The repercussions of fights exacerbate the precarious socioeconomic situation in the Highlands. The limited access to healthcare in the region compounds the suffering of both displaced populations and host communities, adding a layer of anguish to an already complex scenario. Women and children are highly vulnerable in such situations in PNG. PNG remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for women and girls.

With this project, MSF plans to strengthen the capacity of existing services in the health structures, to develop a sustainable community-based approach to healthcare and to establish a functioning SGBV care service through the strengthening of the referral and protection system.