Nearly Half a Million Displaced as Civilian Toll Mounts in Cambodia–Thailand Border Fighting

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 19, 2025) — Nearly half a million Cambodians have been forced from their homes as border clashes with Thailand continue to devastate civilian areas, authorities said Friday, underscoring the growing humanitarian crisis.

Since Dec. 7, attacks on populated zones have killed 18 civilians and injured 79, according to the Ministry of Interior. While no new deaths were reported overnight, displacement surged, with 151,655 families — equivalent to 498,328 people — uprooted across multiple provinces. Women and children account for the majority, with nearly 260,000 women and 160,000 children among those displaced.

Officials said the fighting has destroyed homes, schools, healthcare centers, religious sites, bridges, vehicles, and agricultural facilities. Public services including education, healthcare, and local administration have largely collapsed in affected areas.

The government accused Thai forces of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and called on the international community to enforce ceasefire commitments brokered by the United States, China, and Malaysia.

“The civilian impact is widespread and unacceptable,” the ministry said in its statement, urging immediate international action.

For Cambodia, the mounting casualties and mass displacement highlight the urgent need for diplomacy, as the conflict threatens to erase years of postwar recovery and stability.