Human rights activists in Papua New Guinea say a local government plan to upgrade a road in the country's west will help improve the lives of refugees there.
The local government in PNG's west plans to upgrade a 110 kilometre long dirt road linking the towns of Nomad and Kiunga, a mining centre close to the Papuan border.
On the dirt road is the settlement of Awin, where about 2500 Papuan refugees live.
A lawyer and Papuan activist, Anne Kajir, welcomes the upgrade plan, but also urges caution.
"It would help them in terms of marketing their produce, that would be of an advantage to them. They have to put in the proper infrastructure and make the road properly so that it lasts a long time, the drainage be put in properly; provided that all laws are followed, otherwise I'd be afraid if the government would use it as a logging road."
The UNHCR is happy about the plan and says the refugees could soon take a big step towards self reliance.
