The dilemma of the displaced people from the illegal settlements in Port Moresby city has gotten worse following objections from the community where the city’s authority is planning on temporarily relocation them to.

This is a sad situation now for these people who are already in dire need of help. The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has assured them of resettlement but there are implications to that, and it will be challenging given the current situation.

It is almost two months since the forced eviction of the settlers at the illegal settlements at 2 Mile Hill and 4 Mile Works following the troubles. So far, many evicted people are scattered living in different places awaiting the NCDC to relocate them to the temporary holding place, which is at Gerehu, but residents there do not want them.

The residents of Gerehu gathered recently on the 21st of February 2026 at the suburb’s main recreational area- the Gerehu Sports Center, in a public forum to air their concerns after the office of the National Capital District (NCD) Governor revealed plans to temporarily relocate the displaced people to a vacant piece of land at the back of Gerehu.

Most of them do not want them there because to their bad reputation of committing crime. This is a major concern in the community.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, at the time of the evictions of people from both illegal settlements, stated clearly that the NCDC’s policy position on urban planning settlement management and resettlement still stands, stressing that evicted settlers will only be relocated to properly surveyed and serviced land.

This has been successful to a point for the settlements on the outskirts of the city like the 9 Mile Quarry project and parts of 8 Mile; however, for those within the city limit, they would be resettled elsewhere to allow for planned developments to take place.

This means that to finally have these displace people moved to a secured land, they would require all proper documentations like land titles issued to them, and proper utility services set up for them.

Governor Parkop said he would enable the Commission to properly manage resettlement programs in an orderly and structured manner.

“Without title, we cannot evict, although we have powers under Physical Planning to demolish, we prefer to obtain title to ensure smooth and orderly resettlement for a win- win outcome,” said Governor Parkop. However, this is not the case for those who were just forcefully evicted as there is no land title awaiting each of the families.

The current state of people is concerning

Also, recently, the Governor for Central province, Rufina Peter visited one of the groups of the displaced people from Goilala sheltering at the Kassman residence in Badili and shared their concerns.

The madam Governor, who also hails from the Goilala district of the Central province, raised concerns about this forced eviction and resettlement, alleging it to be a targeted move by the city authority to discriminate a certain group of people; however, she did acknowledged limits to her authority in dealing with this matter further.

“It’s not my jurisdiction. That is why I didn’t come out to speak on the matter,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Atu Laian, a Community Leader of the displaced people of 2 Mile Rabiagini community made a desperate appeal to authorities to come to their help because most of them have lived in the city for generations and don’t know anything about the lands of their great grandparents where they came from. There is no way for them to leave, but to continue residing in the city.

“So that is why I am asking the national government to seriously look into this, because I am 54 years old, and I was born here, I was educated here and I never knew Goilala and how it looks like because I don’t have a place in Goilala and I understand the fact that I belong to Rabiagini, and this is where I’m going to stay and going to die,” he said.

Picture: Central Governor Rufina Peter visiting a group of displaced people from Goilala.

Government launches NIDPP

While their pleas were raised, the government moved to launch a new policy that will address displaced people going forward, which is a great initiative to help Papua New Guineans facing such situation in the future.

This new policy is the National Internally Displaced Persons Policy (NIDPP) 2025- 2035 which was launched by the prime minister on the 26th of February 2026.

The NIDPP provides the framework for a more coordinated support to displaced Papua New Guineans (IDPs), those who are returning to their land after displacement, and host communities who put up land to support displaced people as a result of natural disasters or other such adversities.

“This policy will support and guide the development of legal and administrative frameworks that enable voluntary, safe, and dignified relocation, return, and local integrations of IDPs,” said the prime minister.

“This landmark policy reflects our government’s dedication to ensuring that IDPs are not only protected but also empowered to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to national development.”

What now for the displaced people?

While this policy looks great on paper, its implementation is what is important here. So, while this is carried out, for the evicted people of 2 Mile and 4 Mile settlements who will be temporarily resettled to Gerehu for the time being, it could take some time for them to get meaningful help from the authority.

So, the questions posed now is will they be eventually accepted by the community they are being relocated to, for how long is the temporary stay going to be for them and what does the future hold for them?

PNG HAUSBUNG did reach out to the office of the NCD Governor to get clarification on these questions, including question on the funding for the relocation exercise, but has not received any feedback from the office.

In the meantime, it is hoped that these people would be treated with dignity and get the best help from the State in eventually finding a better place to settle down that is acquired through proper processes to enable a proper and legal land for the people to settle on.

Picture: A portion of the vacated land at 2 Mile Hill fenced off.