Ceasefire Brings Calm as 15,000 Cambodians Return Home

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 30, 2025) — A fragile calm has returned to Cambodia’s border areas following a ceasefire between Cambodian and Thai forces, as nearly 15,000 displaced civilians began returning home after more than three weeks of fighting.

The Ministry of Interior said 14,963 people started returning to their villages Monday after the ceasefire took effect under the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee meeting in Pailin Province on Dec. 27.

Despite the initial returns, 596,926 people remain displaced, including 311,599 women and 187,597 children, underscoring the continuing humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Authorities reported no new civilian casualties during the ceasefire. Since Dec. 7, the fighting has killed 32 civilians and injured 95.

Public services remain partially disrupted across several provinces. Hundreds of schools, hospitals and local administrative offices in Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Koh Kong remain closed, while affected districts in Battambang Province are set to fully resume operations Tuesday.

The government said it is coordinating rehabilitation efforts, including clearing unexploded ordnance, repairing damaged homes and villages, and facilitating the safe return of displaced families.

Officials also welcomed the outcomes of bilateral and trilateral talks in China’s Yunnan Province on Dec. 29, which they said helped stabilize the border situation.