Thailand and Cambodia: A Conflict Displacing Thousands

Recently, the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia showed no signs of easing today, leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals in both nations living under difficult conditions. About 400,000 people have been evacuated from the affected regions in Thailand, and around 700 schools were closed while fighting continued in four border provinces, according to Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri today. Cambodia evacuated over 127,000 villagers and shut down hundreds of schools, as reported by the defense ministry.

Thailand’s military reported that this week, five soldiers were killed and many others were injured. Cambodia stated that seven civilians had died, and 20 more were hurt, although it did not provide updated figures today. There is still no clear route to peace, as Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to keep fighting, while Cambodia’s leader Hun Sen promised a strong retaliation. The recent fighting followed a skirmish on Sunday that injured two Thai soldiers and disrupted a brief ceasefire that had ended armed conflict in July. The five days of fighting over territorial disagreements resulted in dozens of deaths on both sides and necessitated the evacuation of thousands of civilians. The ceasefire was facilitated by Malaysia and enforced with pressure from US President Donald Trump, who warned he would revoke trade privileges from both countries unless they complied. Away from the front lines, worried evacuees are the most apparent indication of the crisis.

In a leisure center in the northeastern Thai city of Surin, around 550 individuals are waiting out the fighting, many having fled hastily after the first shots were fired on Sunday. Officials have supplied food and activities for children. The cooler winter temperatures have made the situation in the shelter tolerable, but there is unavoidable boredom and anxiety about what they left behind, including homes, valuables, and animals. Thidarat Homhual, a 37-year-old farmer in the shelter with her family, expressed her concern for her cows, ducks, four dogs, and nine cats.