The ongoing ethnic clashes at the back road area in Lae city has been blamed on drug abuse and criminal activities.
Five people have been killed and several houses were burned two days ago in a clash between two groups.
Community leaders also decried the absence of provincial authorities in addressing law and order problems in that area.
The back road area is well-known for ethnic clashes and has been one of the major law and order problem areas.
Most of them spurred on by either domestic violence or an attack on a person by people under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Women and young children have been the victims and the worst affected in these situations.
Recently, 5 people were killed, several houses were burned down while many have suffered minor injuries in a clash between the Sepiks and the Bougainvilleans.
This is the latest of several clashes that has left many families homeless, education of young children affected and employees not turning up for work.
Community leaders have blamed the absence of law and order authorities in the area as the reason behind the increasing lawlessness.
They have also decried the absence of provincial authorities in addressing these issues over time.
However, the Lae MP Loujaya Kouza says ethnic clashes occur as a result of huge numbers of people from the same area living together.
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