Pascal Ringwald, coordinator of the Global Malaria Programme at the World Health Organization (WHO), praised Cambodia’s healthcare response to the thousands of civilians displaced by recent border clashes, during a visit to the Wat Phnom Thmar Kambor refugee camp in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province.
Ringwald was part of a high-level delegation of diplomats from 11 countries and representatives from 15 UN agencies and affiliated organisations that toured displacement camps across the Kingdom’s northern provinces, to assess the ongoing humanitarian situation.
He visited six camps, four in Siam Rep province, one in Preah Vihear province and one in Oddar Meanchey province.
“We saw a lot of displaced people,” Ringwald said. “In Siem Reap, many were from Oddar Meanchey. In Preah Vihear, we saw a camp hosting around 20,000 internally displaced people.”
The WHO official also held discussions with provincial health authorities and visited several hospitals and health centres. He expressed strong approval of how local healthcare services have been structured to respond to the influx of displaced persons.
“The way they have structured their health care services is very good,” he said.
“In the displaced camps, we have seen how they set up first aid stations, how patients can be referred to district or provincial hospitals, and the very strong infrastructure in Siem Reap hospitals,” he added,
Ringwald noted that WHO has already mobilised medical supplies and is working in close coordination with Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and other partners to ensure displaced populations continue receiving access to essential care.
“We welcome the ceasefire and hope it will continue,” he added.
The visit comes amid ongoing international concern for the tens of thousands of civilians forced from their homes due to military tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
Local and international actors have intensified efforts to deliver humanitarian aid, particularly healthcare, food and shelter.
