A global agreement aimed at preventing future pandemics risks being delayed as disputes over equitable access to vaccines and treatments intensify, with health advocates in Cambodia urging European leaders to drop resistance to binding commitments. During the March 18 “EU: Stop Blocking Health Equity” press discussion in Phnom Penh, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) called on the European Commission to support stronger equity provisions under the pandemic accord negotiated through the World Health Organization. The agreement, adopted in May 2025 in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, cannot move forward until a key component — the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing…
Author: Raksmey Hong
With hundreds of children’s access to education disrupted by their displacement to refugee camps near Siem Reap, a local NGO has stepped in to provide emergency learning support alongside humanitarian aid. Happy Chandara School explained that it carried out two emergency missions in December and February, reaching 543 displaced families with more than 650 essential supply kits, including food, rice, hygiene products, medicine and school materials. However, beyond immediate relief, the organisation has shifted its focus toward restoring a sense of normalcy for children whose schooling has been interrupted. “Happy Chandara could not remain indifferent to the disruption of schooling…
Stung Treng provincial governor Sor Soputra has acknowledged that Thai goods have entered Cambodia through the Laos border in recent months, but noted that the vast majority of goods crossing the border are Cambodian exports and imports from China and Laos. He stressed that the Kingdom cannot impose a blanket ban on such imports because of its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization. Speaking to journalists in Stung Treng on March 17, Soputra accepted that public concern about Thai products entering the country through Laos reflected strong nationalist sentiment among Cambodians amid ongoing tensions with Thailand. “The…
Conservation efforts at the Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary in northeastern Cambodia are increasingly focusing on protecting endangered bird species, with officials highlighting the critical ecological role of vultures and rare ibis populations while keeping tourism development secondary to sustainability goals. Eang Samnang, a ranger at the sanctuary, said the protection of vultures has become a key biodiversity conservation effort because of the birds’ role in maintaining ecosystem health. “Vultures play a very important role in reducing disease outbreaks and cleaning the environment,” he explained. “When animals die, the carcasses can spread harmful bacteria and disease. Vultures help remove those remains…
The Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) has appointed Mao Chamnan Kith Meng, president of the Khmer Artists Association (KAA), as its Honorary Patron, a move organisers say will help strengthen Cambodia’s film sector and promote the Kingdom’s creative industries on the global stage. The announcement, made on March 13, comes ahead of the 15th edition of the annual festival and reflects what organisers describe as a shared commitment to advancing Cambodia’s cultural sector and creative economy. In her new role, Chamnan will advocate for the development of a strong and sustainable film industry in Cambodia, supporting initiatives that elevate local…
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is preparing to construct protective bunkers at schools in high-risk border areas as part of broader efforts to safeguard students and teachers in the event of potential security threats. Ministry spokesperson Khuon Vicheka said the initiative reflects Cambodia’s experience with past conflicts and the need to remain prepared amid an uncertain regional and global security environment. “Cambodia loves peace. With the experience of past invasions, we cannot yet predict what will happen in the future, including the current global context,” she told The Post. “Therefore, preparing for a possible attack is a matter…
Ratanakiri provincial governor Nhem Sam Oeun has reassured the public that no online scam operations are operating in the northeastern province, as Cambodian authorities continue a nationwide crackdown on cyber-fraud networks. Since July 2025, authorities have targeted around 250 suspected locations, leading to the closure of nearly 200 scam centres and the arrest of more than 3,400 suspects, most of them foreign nationals. Officials said the operations also resulted in 79 court cases involving 697 suspected ringleaders and their accomplices, while about 11,000 foreign workers linked to scam activities were deported. The crackdown has focused on Phnom Penh and at…
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has called on the public to remain calm and respond responsibly after online debates in Thailand questioned aspects of Khmer cultural heritage, particularly traditional attire which is closely linked to Cambodia’s historical identity. In a March 14 press release, the ministry said it had taken note of information circulating on Thai social media and remarks by some Thai political figures objecting to the presentation and promotion of Khmer cultural traditions. The ministry reaffirmed that Khmer cultural heritage — both tangible and intangible — is supported by extensive historical and archaeological evidence. This includes…
A major road project along Cambodia’s northeastern frontier is expected to transform access to one of the country’s most remote regions, opening the so-called “Dragon’s Tail Area” to tourism, cross-border trade and investment while strengthening infrastructure along the border. The Indochina T-Junction, popularly known as the Dragon’s Tail, marks the point where the borders of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos meet. The northeast border ring road, currently under construction across Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces, is designed to connect mountainous frontier zones that were previously difficult to reach, according to officials overseeing the project. Kim Bunthan, chairman of the Foundation for Border…
A song written by a Cambodian student to encourage a close friend struggling with self-doubt has resurfaced years later as a message of empowerment for women, released publicly to mark this year’s International Women’s Day. The song, “Believe”, was written by Yem Sovannry when she was a teenage student supported by the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF). Originally created to encourage her friend Thy Khav during a difficult period in their youth, the English-language track has now been re-recorded and released with an official music video highlighting the enduring power of friendship and self-confidence. CCF released the video on March 8,…