The Ministry of Interior has detailed the deaths of seven civilians and extensive damage following the commencement of Thai attacks on December 7 to the morning of December 9, as the Thai offensive continues.
The seven civilian fatalities include one in Preah Vihear province, three in Oddar Meanchey and three in Banteay Meanchey. Approximately 20 serious and minor injuries have been recorded to date; most are receiving emergency treatment from provincial medical teams or have been transferred to Phnom Penh for further care.
Citizens from six communes in Preah Vihear province’s Choam Ksant district — 1,491 families or 5,597 people — have sought shelter at eight sanctuary sites established by authorities.
In Oddar Meanchey, 3,478 families, equivalent to 11,060 people, have evacuated to six safe locations.
In Banteay Meanchey province, 4,562 citizens have evacuated to safety zones or the homes of relatives.
Regarding the destruction of civil infrastructure and the disruption of basic public services, the ministry reported that Thai attacks have damaged numerous Cambodian homes, private company buildings, schools, and public roads through artillery shelling and aerial bombardment from F-16 aircraft.
In Oddar Meanchey, 238 out of the province’s 260 schools have been closed, with all classes suspended. Schools in border towns and districts in Preah Vihear and Banteay Meanchey have also almost entirely closed after thousands of young children were evacuated with their families.
The ministry stated that there are further tragedies and impacts on Cambodian areas and civilians, as Thai violations of Cambodia’s sovereignty continue with the shelling of residential villages, some of them located nearly 30 kilometres from the border.
“This does not yet account for the consequences of the hazardous, toxic smoke that Thailand continues to use unconscionably on Cambodian territory,” it added.
The ministry urged the ASEAN community, the UN and the international community to monitor, condemn and take action in accordance with international laws, principles and procedures regarding the “savage and brutal” crimes committed by the Thai government and military.
These actions seriously violate the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention against Torture and the ASEAN Charter, it added.
