Filipinos in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are being urged to stay vigilant following a series of violent incidents in the capital, Port Moresby.

On Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) advised Filipinos to avoid high-risk areas and limit movement during unsafe hours. This came after a warning from the Philippine Embassy in PNG on 18 February, urging the Filipino community to report any fellow nationals in need of assistance.

Violence in PNG has been on the rise in recent weeks, with reports of two women being killed in separate incidents. A 29-year-old mother of two died last week after allegedly being tortured by her husband. Days later, a group of 30 men abducted a woman from her home in Port Moresby, and she was later found raped and murdered.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape condemned the attacks and called for a crackdown on “criminal havens.” On 18 February, the United Nations in PNG also released a statement condemning gender-based violence and calling for justice.

“We call for an immediate investigation into these incidents and reaffirm our commitment to working with the Government of Papua New Guinea to promote justice, human rights, and the protection of all individuals,” the UN-PNG said.