Cambodia's Ministry of Interior announced today (21 Dec) that fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border ongoing for more than two weeks has displaced over 500,000 Cambodians, including women and children, forcing them to leave homes and schools to escape attacks involving artillery, rockets, and bombing.
The Cambodian Ministry of Interior stated in a release, "Currently, more than half a million Cambodians, including women and children, are enduring severe hardship as they are forced to flee from their homes and schools to escape attacks with artillery, rockets, and aerial bombings by Thai F-16 fighter jets." They reported a total of 518,611 displaced persons.
On the Thai side, reports indicate approximately 400,000 people have been displaced. The cumulative death toll from this month's fighting stands at at least 22 in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia.
This conflict stems from a deeply rooted 800-kilometer border issue traced back to colonial-era demarcations and overlapping areas around ancient temple ruins. The situation escalated violently starting 7 December.
In July, initial clashes caused dozens of deaths before ceasefire negotiations were brokered by the US, China, and Malaysia. In October, US President Donald Trump supported a joint Thai-Cambodian statement extending the ceasefire in Kuala Lumpur. In November, Thailand suspended the ceasefire after Thai soldiers triggered a landmine during patrols. Thailand accused Cambodia of laying new mines, which Cambodia denied. In December, daily clashes involving tanks, drones, and artillery occurred, especially near the Preah Vihear temple.
Although Donald Trump claimed he had resolved the conflict, the Thai government denied any new ceasefire agreement had been reached. Meanwhile, the international community is intensifying efforts to end the violence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that both sides would reach a ceasefire agreement by 22 or 23 December.
China dispatched special envoy Deng Xijun to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to urge a ceasefire and restoration of peace. Meanwhile, ASEAN foreign ministers are scheduled for urgent talks this Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to seek a diplomatic solution.
The latest situation reports Cambodia stating that Thai forces continue to launch attacks from early today (21 Dec) near the Preah Vihear temple, a flashpoint of violence in 2008. Despite the International Court of Justice ruling in 2013, new clashes erupted in May this year following Cambodian military casualties in confrontations.
. AFP