Violent clashes between forces of Thailand and Cambodia along their disputed border have triggered a new humanitarian crisis, with thousands of residents forced to flee their homes over the past 48 hours. The conflict follows a breakdown of a fragile ceasefire signed just weeks ago.
According to Thai military statements, airstrikes and artillery fire were exchanged with Cambodian forces, prompting mass evacuations across multiple border provinces. On the Cambodian side, authorities report that entire villages have been emptied, with many families seeking refuge in temporary shelters or makeshift camps.
Casualties and destruction — deadly toll mounts
Both sides report fatalities and wounded, with civilians among the main victims. Cambodian officials say at least seven civilians were killed and 20 wounded. Thailand’s military counts three soldiers killed, in addition to unspecified civilian casualties and injuries.
Residential homes, farms and border villages have been damaged or destroyed by shelling and airstrikes. On both sides, residents describe chaotic scenes — families leaving with only a few belongings, roads blocked with abandoned vehicles, and fear returning to homes that may no longer stand.
Scale of displacement — shelters overflowing, education on hold
Thai authorities have established hundreds of temporary shelters across four border provinces, accommodating more than 125,000 displaced people so far. In Cambodia, more than 1,100 families have been relocated, with numbers rising as fighting spreads.
Close to 1,000 schools in affected areas have been closed temporarily, with some repurposed as shelter centres. Officials say these centres have been equipped with basic necessities — bedding, food, water, sanitation and spaces for children.
Amid the upheaval, thousands of families find themselves in limbo — unsure when, or if, they will be able to return home. Many report shortages of food, medicine and access to clean water; local authorities have raised alarm over humanitarian needs as weather worsens and supplies dwindle. AP News+1
What triggered the violence — collapse of ceasefire, renewed aggression
The flare-up began after a reported skirmish on Sunday in which two Thai soldiers were injured. Thailand accused Cambodian forces of initiating hostilities; Cambodia responded by rejecting the claim and accused Thai forces of creeping into contested zones.
In response, Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets late Monday, including alleged rocket depots and fortified positions — moves Phnom Penh condemned as dangerously provocative.
The violence shatters a fragile truce signed in October 2025 under international mediation — a ceasefire that briefly ended the deadliest sequence of clashes between the two neighbours in decades.
Human toll beyond bullets — fear, trauma, and long-term uncertainty
For residents of border villages, the violence has brought more than physical danger. Women, children and the elderly — often the most vulnerable — report sleepless nights, fear of shelling, and traumatic memories of fleeing under bombardment. Many say they still lack basic supplies, clean drinking water, or functioning toilets at shelter sites.
Farmers who lost lands and livestock face an uncertain future: with fields scorched or mined, sources of income may disappear for years. For families who relied on cross-border trade or seasonal labour, displacement means losing not just home but livelihood.
Aid groups warn that if the fighting continues, the crisis could deepen — with children missing school, risk of disease outbreaks, and growing tension in temporary shelters. International agencies are being urged to mobilize resources quickly.
Diplomatic breakdown — both governments blame each other
Thailand insists the airstrikes were defensive, launched in response to artillery fire from Cambodian forces. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared that military operations will continue until Thailand’s sovereignty is secured.
In Phnom Penh, former long-time leader Hun Sen — now Senate President — vowed a “fierce fight,” insisting Cambodia would retaliate forcefully. He denied any pre-emptive aggression.
Both sides accuse the other of violating the ceasefire — closing down diplomatic channels. With trust shattered, prospects for immediate negotiation appear slim.
Regional alarm — risk of wider conflict and humanitarian disaster
Regional and international observers warn that the renewed fighting could destabilize Southeast Asia’s already fragile security environment. Many fear that what began as a border skirmish could escalate into wider, protracted warfare — especially with heavy weaponry, airstrikes, and drone attacks reportedly in use.
Neighboring countries and bloc organisations — including ASEAN — have called for restraint and immediate diplomacy. International agencies are also increasingly concerned about the humanitarian impact: access to food, clean water, shelter, and medical care for tens of thousands of displaced civilians.
Immediate needs and uncertainty ahead
With winter approaching in the border regions, displaced families are at risk of exposure, illness, and further hardship. The lack of secure shelter, limited resources and ongoing shelling make return unsafe — yet many have nowhere else to go.
Humanitarian organisations urge:
- Expanded shelter capacity — with sanitation, clean water, and winter supplies
- Medical outreach — including treatment for injuries, communicable diseases, mental-health support for trauma victims
- Safe corridors to evacuate civilians from high-risk areas
- Rapid de-escalation and renewed effort toward negotiation or ceasefire
But with both governments digging in, and violence continuing, many fear these urgent needs may go unmet.
The border towns of Thailand and Cambodia — once home to generations of farmers, traders and families — are now ghost villages, emptied overnight by shelling and airstrikes. As thousands cling to uncertain futures in overcrowded shelters, the human cost of a failing ceasefire becomes painfully clear. Unless the guns fall silent, and genuine diplomacy returns, the suffering along that contested line on the map may deepen into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
