Evacuees from Buriram Province hope the clashes will end soon, complaining of lost income for over two weeks and calls from finance companies demanding vehicle installment payments. They urge the government to expedite aid for all affected individuals in need.
On 19 Dec 2025 GMT+7, reporters reported that the prolonged fighting between Thai and Cambodian soldiers has entered its 12th day with no clear end in sight. Thousands of villagers from the border risk zone who have evacuated to a shelter in Buriram Province are beginning to experience stress, as they have been unable to return to their livelihoods and have lost income for nearly two weeks. Meanwhile, many have received calls from creditors and finance companies demanding payments on car and motorcycle installments.
Ms. Sirin, 40, one of the evacuees, revealed that yesterday a finance company employee called to demand her car installment payment. She informed them she was still displaced in the shelter due to the conflict and had not been tapping rubber for almost two weeks, so was not in a position to pay. However, they did not say whether they would grant any leniency.
They then called her husband, who is a volunteer security guard maintaining order in the red zone area. This caused him concern, and he had to borrow money from relatives and friends to pay the monthly car installment of over 7,600 baht. They feared the vehicle might be repossessed if the payment was missed. He admitted the situation was very difficult since they had not been tapping rubber since the fighting began and thus had no income. If the conflict ended soon, he said, they could return to work, earn money to pay installments without borrowing, support the family, and clear debts. They also want the government to provide aid to address these impacts.
Ms. Supaporn said she works in rubber plantations, while her husband does general labor. Since the conflict began, neither has been able to work or tap rubber, leaving them with no income. Their limited savings have nearly run out due to expenses during evacuation. They have three young children aged 4, 7, and 8. She said they must pay vehicle installments on the 25th of every month but currently have no means to do so because of zero income. She hopes finance companies will consider leniency or extend payment deadlines since the conflict’s end and return to work remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, Mrs. La-ongdao, an employee at a beauty salon, said that during evacuation at the shelter, she had no income. She asked the salon owner’s permission to bring nail gel equipment and supplies to provide nail services to villagers and staff at the shelter, generating some income to pay 3,000 baht monthly house rent and to buy school supplies for her children upon returning home.
Bringing nail equipment to the shelter not only helped pay rent but also provided stress relief for herself and others there after nearly two weeks. She appeals to the government to appropriately assist affected villagers in line with the real hardships they face.