PAPUA - The military operation launched by the Indonesian military in the border region of Yahukimo Regency and Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, has triggered a wave of civilian refugees fleeing to forest areas and the center of Kombai District. This self-salvation step was forced to be taken by the community after two units of civilian aircraft dropped troops along with military logistics at Korowai Airport, which was followed by volleys of gunfire from the air.
​The Central Headquarters Management of the National Command of the West Papua National Liberation Army (KOMNAS TPNPB), after receiving confirmation from the Papua Intelligence Service (PIS) regarding the movement of the civilians, reported that the armed conflict which broke out on Sunday (24/5/2026) at around 17:50 WIT, has caused extraordinary panic among the residents of remote villages in the border region.
​The Indonesian military launched a massive air and land assault where attack helicopters repeatedly opened fire around civilian settlements. The TPNPB stated that the operation was a retaliatory action for the death of ten people identified as Indonesian military intelligence agents.
​Those ten people had previously operated by disguising themselves as illegal gold miners on the borders of Yahukimo, Boven Digoel, and Pegunungan Bintang. TPNPB under the leadership of the Commander of the Yamue Battalion, Major Kumis Passe, and Major Dejang Heluka, together with the Operations Commander of TPNPB Defense Regional Command (Kodap) XVI Yahukimo, Major Kopitua Heluka, were responsible for the execution of the agents.
​The retaliatory attack from the Indonesian military was deemed misplaced as it instead hit civilian areas and victimized vulnerable groups. Children, pregnant women, as well as the elderly must now survive under a refugee emergency in the middle of the wilderness.
​"This retaliatory attack in the Indonesian military operation only victimizes civilians, especially children and pregnant women," said Kopitua Heluka, Sunday (24/5/2026).
​Kopitua Heluka stated that if the Indonesian military wants to pursue the TPNPB forces, they are ready to serve the battle at the main headquarters. All TPNPB forces are currently in the Yahukimo region and remain on standby awaiting the arrival of Indonesian troops.
​Meanwhile, the wave of displacement due to this prolonged armed conflict is reported to continue experiencing a highly significant surge. The Central Headquarters Management of KOMNAS TPNPB recorded that more than 107,039 civilians in various regions of Papua have left their homelands.
​The condition of the refugees inside the forest is reported to be very deplorable due to the absence of security guarantees and physical protection. They face an acute shortage of food supplies and the absence of basic medicine supplies to cure illnesses.
​The death toll in emergency tents continues to rise due to disease and starvation that have not received medical handling. The Government of Indonesia is deemed to have deliberately ignored the humanitarian crisis currently taking place in the land of Papua.
​TPNPB urges the Indonesian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross to immediately intervene to evacuate the victims. International humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to suppress the civilian death toll at the displacement locations.
​Sebby Sambom, the Spokesperson for TPNPB West Papua Liberation Organisation (OPM), urged the United Nations (UN) to send a humanitarian team to Papua. The UN must immediately take over the management of the refugees to overcome the humanitarian crisis that continues to worsen due to the armed conflict. (One Papua)