Cambodia and UN Pledge Closer Cooperation on Humanitarian and Development Priorities

PHNOM PENH, Feb 12, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia and the United Nations have pledged to deepen cooperation on humanitarian and development priorities, following talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth and newly appointed UN Resident Coordinator Vladanka Andreeva.

The meeting at the Ministry of Economy and Finance marked Andreeva’s assumption of office in Cambodia. Both sides welcomed what they described as strong and longstanding ties between Phnom Penh and the UN.

Discussions focused on urgent humanitarian needs, particularly support for Cambodian refugees along the Thai border and migrant workers returning from Thailand.

Pornmoniroth said more than 4,000 displaced families remain unable to return home, with the government converting camps into temporary shelters and expanding social assistance programmes to aid recovery.

He added that Cambodia had received humanitarian aid and grant financing from China and the Asian Development Bank to rehabilitate infrastructure damaged by conflict, while also assisting over one million returning migrant workers through job matching, skills training and small business support.

The deputy prime minister urged development partners, especially the UN Development Programme, to continue backing Cambodia’s preparations for graduation from Least Developed Country status and to strengthen social protection systems to meet Sustainable Development Goals.

Andreeva reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Cambodia’s development agenda, saying the organisation would continue policy dialogue under the 2024–2028 Cooperation Framework and mobilise humanitarian and technical assistance for displaced people and returning workers.