Indonesia, West Papua – Between January and March 2026, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the increasing presence of military personnel in the central highlands. As of late March 2026, more than 107,039 civilians across multiple regencies remained internally displaced due to military operations and armed conflict (see table below). Armed violence and military raids occurred in remote areas of West Papua, which are mainly inhabited by indigenous Papuans. The vulnerability of indigenous Papuans to internal displacement and state violence is further exacerbated by the tendency of security forces to racially profile and stigmatize indigenous Papuans as supporters or members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
Incidents triggering new internal displacements reportedly occurred in the regencies Mimika, Puncak, Intan Jaya, Tambrauw, Nabire, and Yahukimo. An unknown number of indigenous Papuans were internally displaced due to armed conflict incidents in the Boven Digoel Regency in February 2026, and tribal warfare in the Kapiraya District of Paniai Regency in early March 2026.
Across all displacement sites, conditions remain consistently severe. Displaced populations face critical shortages of food, medicine, clean water, and shelter. Those taking refuge in forests are particularly vulnerable, with little to no humanitarian assistance reaching them, while individuals housed in temporary camps contend with dangerous overcrowding, limited resources, and a near-total breakdown of normal daily life.
HRM observed a significant raise in arbitrary detentions in conflict zones like Yahukimo, Intan Jaya, or Tambrauw since January 2026. Moreover, ongoing military operations reportedly involving battle drones, mortars and air raids in civilian populated areas across the central highlands (read sections Intan Jaya and Puncak below) violate principles of distinction between combatants and non-combatants and have resulted the cessation of daily activities and paralysation of health and education services. Such patterns cause fear among local communities and encourage the civilian population to leave these areas.
Christian Solidarity International (CSI) expressed their concerns over the growing numbers of IDPs due to increased military activity at an UN human Rights Council Session on 25 March 2026. Moreover, CSI noted that military operations in West Papua are closely linked to large-scale resource extraction projects involving nickel, gold, and industrial plantations. CSI supported the call made by the World Council of Churches (WCC) at a UN Human Rights Council side event on March 4, 2026. Both organisations urge the Indonesian government to extend invitations to the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council and to facilitate a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights."
Tambrauw
On 18 March 2026, joint Indonesian military and police forces conducted raids in the districts Fef and Bamus Bama, Tambrauw Regency, South West Papua province. Security force personnel reportedly detained at least 12 villagers without warrants. The military operation followed a violent incident on 16 March, 2026 in the Jokbu Village, during which members of the West Papua National Liberation Aremy (TPNPB) killed two health workers. An unknown number of people in the districts Fef and Bamusbama reportedly fled to the forest or sought shelter with relatives in the Tambrauw's main town Fef. Following the incident, local human rights defenders observed a second wave of displacement to the city of Sorong after additional security forces were deployed to Fef.
Yahukimo
By mid-March 2026, the Catholic Parish of Sang Penebus in Sentani had launched a solidarity campaign, coordinated by JPIC OFM Papua, dispatching clothing, and medicine. Urgent medical needs identified included antibiotics, vitamins, blood pressure monitors, nebulisers and oxygen cylinders, highlighting the near-total collapse of healthcare access for IDPs. Yahukimo is reported to be one of the largest focal points of displacement and has become the regency leading the statistics on armed violence in West Papua in 2025. In addition, security forces have significantly intensified raids and patrols in the Dekai District, causing widespread fear among the civilian population. HRM observed a significant increase of arbitrary detentions in Dekai between January and March 2026.
Mimika
On 2 March 2026, Indonesian military forces conducted operations in the Tembagapura District, in the area around Mile 69 within the PT Freeport Indonesia mining concession. One civilian was reportedly killed while at least two others were wounded by gunfire during the TPNPB ambush. Subsequent security force raids reportedly involved indiscriminate shooting into civilian settlements and surrounding forest, triggering mass displacement from Kali Kabur and surrounding villages. By 5 March 2026, an estimated more than 1,000 civilians had been internally displaced, including infants, young children, pregnant women and the elderly. The IDPs had to walk several kilometres on foot to seek shelter with relatives. On 5 March 2026, displaced persons from Kali Kabur were receiving guidance from community leaders, police, and churches in preparation for evacuation to Timika. No official statement had been issued by the TNI or Indonesian National Police at the time of reporting.
Nabire
From 1 March 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) forces launched large-scale joint operations across multiple locations in the Nabire District of Nabire Regency, including the Nabarua Complex, SP 3, Topo, and along the Nabire-Ilaga Trans Road, involving more than 500 ground troops as well as military and civilian helicopters. The operations, officially justifierd as law enforcement actions targeting TPNPB forces followed an attack on a security post of company PT Kristalin and resulted in significant internal displacement.
On 8 March 2026, joint TNI-Polri forces evicted residents of Nabarua Atas, with the number of displaced persons and the location of evacuation centres not yet confirmed. Residents of the Nabarua Complex fled their homes, which were subsequently occupied by Indonesian military personnel, while civilians living on farms at SP 3, Topo and KM 100 reportedly fled to Nabire City. No humanitarian aid figures or confirmed IDP numbers for Nabire were available at the time of reporting.
Puncak
Beginning on 22 January 2026, military personnel launched large-scale land and air operations across Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province, particularly targeting the Kembru District. The operations reportedly significantly escalated on 31 January, reportedly involving drone-dropped explosives, mortars and shootings directed at civilian villages and IDP settlements, including the villages of Nilome, Kembru, Makuma, Tenoti, Kumikomo, Yigunggi, Gelegi, Aguit and Belaba. On 31 January, internet access was deliberately cut off from 07:00 am until the following day, preventing civilians from reporting the attacks. Further incidents were recorded on 8 February, when grenades were allegedly dropped on civilian areas during Christian Sunday worship services. On 3 March 2026, a drone dropped reportedly a grenade on a ceremonial site in Kembru District, which fortunately did not explode (see photos below, source: independent HRD).
According to information the received, the military operations caused mass displacement of civilians across multiple districts. Residents from villages Kembru, Tenoti, Nilume and Makuma fled to Yambi and Sinak Districts in the neighbouring Puncak Jaya Regency, while civilians from Abuit, Belaba, Molu and Aguit fled into the wilderness. On 21 February 2026, the Regent of Puncak was distributing food aid to IDPs who had fled tot he neighbouring Puncak Jaya Regency. Sick individuals, the elderly, pregnant women, and infants were among those forced to walk tens of kilometres through forest to reach safety. By 8 March 2026, a further military operation in West Beoga District, reportedly forced residents into the forest overnight, with 61 civilians taking refuge in Mamere Village without access to food or health services.
Human rights defenders and civil society groups documented additional violations beyond the bombings, including the conversion of YPPGI Milawak Primary School in Puncak Regency into a military post, alleged sexual violence against a civilian woman by military personnel in Beoga District, civilian intimidation, and the displacement of entire villages across multiple districts. Church leaders and NGOs have called on the Indonesian government to immediately cease military operations in civilian and IDP areas, grant humanitarian access, and open dialogue toward a peaceful resolution.
Intan Jaya
Two significant incidents were documented between late January and early March 2026. On 30 January 2026, the Santo Bernardus Catholic Church in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, was reportedly destroyed by an Indonesian military (TNI) helicopter. On 1 March 2026, local sources documented a shootout between Indonesian military forces and TPNPB fighters in Wandoga Village, Sugapa District, during which Indonesian military personnel allegedly demolished 26 civilian homes and destroyed vegetable gardens. Soldiers confiscated farming and hunting tools including knives, axes, machetes, bows and arrows.
Civilians from Wandoga Village reportedly fled to neighbouring villages and the town centre of Sugapa in search of safety. The pattern of displacement due to military operations and armed conflict is a recurring crisis in Intan Jaya, compounded by the complete absence of formal emergency shelter facilities or humanitarian camps for those affected. Children have been deprived of schooling, some have lost parents, and vulnerable community members continue to bear the brunt of the conflict with no adequate protection infrastructure in place.
Nduga
IDPs from the Nduga Regency have now been displaced for eight years as a result of ongoing armed conflict, with their situation remaining critically neglected as of early 2026. The IDPs are scattered across multiple locations including Muliama, Tikilmo-Welesi, Wamena city and its surroundings, Keneyam, Nogolait Upper and Lower, and Hubikosi District in Jayawijaya Regency, where they have been sheltering in church facilities and semi-permanent housings since 2018. Humanitarian activists alleged in March 2026 that the Nduga regional government has failed to enable access to basic needs, including clean water, decent housing, lighting, healthcare or education, despite an alleged allocation of 10 billion rupiah (about 560,000) in government funds for IDPs that allegedly never reached the community.
Women give birth without medical assistance in the camps and the sick are often lack access to medication. While many displaced children do not attend school, the Sapalek Primary School and Yapesli Primary School in Wamena serve 562 displaced children from Nduga. In January 2026, the Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity (YKKMP) provided stationery donations in the absence of government support.
Tensions between local communities and IDPs reportedly emerged in Hubikosi District, Residents demanded the relocation of Nduga IDPs, describing their presence as "illegal" due to the absence of any official government explanation or oversight. The situation prompted a visit by the Head of Mugi District in early March 2026 to negotiate a resolution. The Deputy Regent of Jayawijaya was reported to have been visibly moved to tears upon witnessing conditions in the displacement camps on 9 March 2026 (see video below, source: independent HRD), underscoring the severity of a humanitarian crisis that has persisted largely unaddressed for nearly a decade.
Pegunungan Bintang
As of 16 January 2026, IDPs from Kiwirok District remain in prolonged displacement. The IDPs still shelter in the surrounding forest and in other districts, with no signs of return. According to a local sources, media reports of residents returning home and TPNPB forces surrendering are characterised as a TNI strategic narrative rather than a reflection of reality on the ground. Access to education, healthcare and religious services remains completely paralysed. Young volunteer teams reportedly established makeshift reading corners, basic healthcare services and church gatherings. Humanitarian aid has only occasionally reached the IDP camps by road, but the quantity and regularity of such aid remain inadequate. Accordingly, an unknown number of deaths due to lack of medical assistance have already been reported.
On 23 January 2026, the Central Executive Board of the Pegunungan Bintang Student Association (IMPPTANG) held a peaceful protest in the regency capital Oksibil. The protesters presented a formal statement to the Regent and Regional Parliament of Pegunungan Bintang demanding an immediate halt to military deployments, the evacuation and return of IDPs from Oksop and Kiwirok Districts, the withdrawal of both organic and non-organic military forces, and the revocation of planned mining licences in the regency. HRM did not receive updated information on the situation of IDPs from the Oksop District throughout the past three months.
Lanny Jaya
On 20 January 2026, a peaceful rally at the Kuyawage field in Lanny Jaya Regency, supported by church leaders, customary leaders, local government figures, women's representatives, youth, students and academics, formally rejected the presence of non-organic military forces in their district. Protesters demanded the immediately withdrawal of non-organic military personnel from Kuyawage, stating that their presence has caused civilians to live in sustained fear and trauma. The community formally declared Kuyawage a displacement area for civilians fleeing conflict and demanded an end to all forms of intimidation and inhumane treatment of indigenous Papuans. Additional grievances included the construction of permanent and new TNI military posts without the consent of indigenous communities, the destruction of civilian facilities including school buildings, health centres and homes during military operations, and the unilateral opening of free schools by the TNI without coordination with the Ministry of Education.
IDPs across West Papua, Indonesia, as of 27 March 2026 (see original document)