More than 21,000 Cambodians remain displaced after border conflict, government says

PHNOM PENH, July 3, 2026 (KPT) – More than 21,000 people remain displaced along the Cambodia–Thailand border, unable to return to their homes despite a ceasefire, Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said Friday.

In a statement covering the 24 hours from 6:00 am July 1 to 6:00 am July 2, the ministry reported that 21,194 people — including 10,887 women and 6,066 children — were still displaced. Only 89 people had returned home during the period.

The ministry said more than 640,000 civilians were uprooted during the conflict. It alleged that those still displaced could not return because their villages had been occupied and damaged by Thai forces after the ceasefire took effect.

Thailand has previously rejected Cambodian accusations of responsibility for border incidents.
According to the ministry, schools and health facilities in several provinces remain closed.

Eight schools and five hospitals or health centres in Oddar Meanchey, five schools and one hospital in Banteay Meanchey, and seven schools and two hospitals in Preah Vihear have yet to reopen. No new damage to public or private property was reported.

The government reiterated its protest against what it described as continued violations of Cambodian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It said the actions breached the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on land boundary demarcation and a joint statement issued after the General Border Committee’s special meeting in December 2025, which committed both sides to easing tensions and resuming work through the Joint Boundary Commission.

The ministry urged Cambodians at home and abroad to support Prime Minister Hun Manet’s efforts to resolve the dispute through diplomacy and international law, with the aim of restoring peace and enabling displaced residents on both sides of the frontier to return to normal life.