At a crowded displacement site inside a Buddhist pagoda in Banteay Meanchey province, 73-year-old Kim Sophat waits for what she says matters more than aid or donations: peace that will allow her family to return home. Sophat, a vendor at a local school in Techo village, O Beichoan commune, O Chrov district, fled her home following Thai military attacks that erupted along the Cambodia–Thailand border in early December 2025. Nearly a month later, she remains at Wat Samithi Moni Saphon, also known as Wat Svay Thmey, in Serei Saophoan town, too afraid to go back. “I don’t want war,” Sophat…
Author: Raksmey Hong
Homes near the Boeng Trakuon roundabout were damaged by Thai military fire during attacks between December 7-27, 2025, according to local authorities. Thai troops have continued to erect razor wire and position shipping containers within Cambodian territory, approximately one kilometre from the Boeng Trakuon border crossing. The affected area includes four villages—Phlov Damrei, Samakki Meanchey, Banteay Mean Rithy and Boeung Samraong—in the Kork Romiet commune of Thma Puok district. Authorities state that these areas have been encroached upon and illegally occupied by Thai forces. Many residents remain displaced due to the damage to their homes and ongoing security concerns. The…
Cambodia has demanded that Thailand withdraw from Cambodian sovereign territory, formally accusing the neighbouring country of seizing and maintaining control over parts of its land in violation of a ceasefire agreement, international law and existing bilateral border arrangements, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on January 2. “During their full-scale military operations from December 7-27, 2025, Thai armed forces carried out coordinated and systematic military attacks across multiple sectors of the internationally recognised boundary, forcibly entering, seizing and placing under their effective control areas situated unequivocally within Cambodian territory in four provinces,”…
Teaching and learning have officially resumed across most schools in Banteay Meanchey province, following an improvement in the security situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, according to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS). In a directive dated December 31, 2025, the ministry approved the resumption of classes from January 5, 2026, for all educational institutions in Thma Puok, Svay Chek, Ochrov and Malai districts, as well as Poipet city. The decision followed a meeting of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Administration on December 30. “Chouk Chey Primary School, Prey Chan Primary School in Ochrov district, as well as Banteay Meanrith…
Cambodia has reaffirmed its firm stance on safeguarding its territorial integrity, rejecting any attempt to alter the Cambodia-Thailand border through force and calling for immediate joint survey and demarcation work under existing bilateral mechanisms. Government spokesperson Pen Bona, speaking on the morning of January 2, 2026, said Cambodia’s position remains clear and consistent, grounded in international law and longstanding agreements, as both sides implement the Joint Statement issued on 27 December 2025. Referring to Point 3 of the Joint Statement, Bona said Cambodia and Thailand have agreed that all arrangements under the document are made without prejudice to the international…
Four days after a ceasefire between Cambodian and Thai forces took effect, more than half a million civilians remain displaced, underscoring the scale of humanitarian disruption despite growing stability along the border, according to the Ministry of Interior. A government press release issued on January 1 said the ceasefire – implemented from 6pm on December 31 to 1pm on January 1 – had brought calm to affected areas and enabled some families to return home. However, the overall situation on the ground remains fragile, with 512,263 people still unable to return to their villages due to safety concerns, damaged infrastructure…
As Cambodia moves to restore normality following the ceasefire with Thailand, authorities say 84 villages remain inaccessible due to security concerns and war-related damage, even as thousands of displaced families have begun returning home, according to the Ministry of Interior. “In Oddar Meanchey province, 11,106 families have already returned to their homes, while access to 84 villages remains restricted pending security assessments and clearance operations,” the ministry reported on December 31, 2025. “Another 72 villages in the province have been prepared for resettlement, with housing arrangements coordinated by local authorities,” it said. In neighbouring Banteay Meanchey province, 3,159 families have…
Indonesia has expanded education opportunities for Cambodian students through the Indonesia Aid Scholarship (TIAS) programme following the signing of a new grant agreement between the two governments, paving the way for increased academic cooperation and people-to-people ties. The agreement was signed on December 30 by Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia. According to the Indonesian Embassy to Cambodia: “The move allows Cambodian students to apply for the 2026-2027 academic intake, with applications expected to open between February and March 2026.” The signing ceremony was witnessed by Indonesian Ambassador to…
Two days after a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand came into effect, thousands of displaced families in Oddar Meanchey province face a slow and uncertain road home as authorities warn that large swathes of land remain unsafe. More than 50,000 of the total provincial population of 68,000 families were forced to flee their homes following fighting along the border. Although the ceasefire has allowed some movement, not everyone has been able to return, with only some 10 per cent of displaced families having been observed leaving. Oddar Meanchey Governor Mean Chanyada said those looking to return must proceed cautiously, guided…
While hundreds of thousands of families displaced by recent cross-border fighting in Banteay Meanchey province welcome the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, many remain uncertain as to when they can return home, with safety assessments and official instructions still pending. As of December 27, the Ta Dok Market Safety Centre alone was host to 2,337 families, or 8,485 people, reflecting the scale of displacement caused by the fighting. Among them is 58-year-old So Chanren, from Thnal Bot village in O’Bei Choan district, who fled her home on December 9 after fighting intensified near the border. She has been staying at the Tadok Market…