National
• 17 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Cambodia Says 649,000 Displaced, Preah Vihear Hit in 562 Places as Thai Ceasefire Commitments Unmet
PHNOM PENH — Oct. 6, 2026: Cambodia has released a detailed account of the humanitarian and cultural toll of the border conflict, saying Thailand has not fully implemented the ceasefire that took effect on Dec. 27, 2025.
In a press release, the Ministry of Interior said Thai military actions displaced about 649,000 Cambodian civilians. By the morning of Oct. 6, 2026, roughly 625,000 had returned home, with the remainder still in temporary shelters, safe camps and Rong Cham village — a situation the Ministry said breaches the 1949 Geneva Conventions' prohibition on forcibly expelling or transferring civilians from occupied territory.
Citing Cambodian Mine Action Centre records, the Ministry said Thai forces used fighter jets and 155mm artillery firing cluster munitions, with an estimated 120,000 to 130,000 shells carrying 6 to 7 million unexploded submunitions across nearly 3,000 square kilometres and 335 of 349 affected villages. It called this a violation of international humanitarian law and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and a continuing danger to civilians, including children, after the ceasefire.
The Ministry said Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site, was struck at 501 targets with damage recorded in 562 places, describing the shelling as planned and directed with intent to destroy the temple. Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, Ta Krabey and Kh'na temples were also damaged. Wider losses included 1,558 houses, 26 schools, 14 hospitals or health centres, 74 government buildings, 19 pagodas, five bridges and 87 road sections, among others.
The Ministry backed UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews' report to the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council, saying it exposed the humanitarian crisis facing displaced Cambodians. It also supported calls for both sides to honour the GBC Joint Statement of Dec. 27, 2025, to allow displaced citizens to return home safely and with dignity and to accelerate border demarcation.
It further backed the Royal Government's protest over an incident on Sept. 30, 2026, when Thai forces and monks raised a national flag at the Thmor Da International Border Checkpoint in Pursat province, which Cambodia said violates its sovereignty under the 1904 and 1907 treaties, the 2000 MOU and the GBC Joint Statement.
The Ministry expressed support for Prime Minister Hun Manet's appeal for national unity and urged Cambodians to oppose false information and attacks on Cambodian soldiers while the aggressors are praised, calling such conduct treason.
Source: Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
In a press release, the Ministry of Interior said Thai military actions displaced about 649,000 Cambodian civilians. By the morning of Oct. 6, 2026, roughly 625,000 had returned home, with the remainder still in temporary shelters, safe camps and Rong Cham village — a situation the Ministry said breaches the 1949 Geneva Conventions' prohibition on forcibly expelling or transferring civilians from occupied territory.
Citing Cambodian Mine Action Centre records, the Ministry said Thai forces used fighter jets and 155mm artillery firing cluster munitions, with an estimated 120,000 to 130,000 shells carrying 6 to 7 million unexploded submunitions across nearly 3,000 square kilometres and 335 of 349 affected villages. It called this a violation of international humanitarian law and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and a continuing danger to civilians, including children, after the ceasefire.
The Ministry said Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site, was struck at 501 targets with damage recorded in 562 places, describing the shelling as planned and directed with intent to destroy the temple. Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, Ta Krabey and Kh'na temples were also damaged. Wider losses included 1,558 houses, 26 schools, 14 hospitals or health centres, 74 government buildings, 19 pagodas, five bridges and 87 road sections, among others.
The Ministry backed UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews' report to the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council, saying it exposed the humanitarian crisis facing displaced Cambodians. It also supported calls for both sides to honour the GBC Joint Statement of Dec. 27, 2025, to allow displaced citizens to return home safely and with dignity and to accelerate border demarcation.
It further backed the Royal Government's protest over an incident on Sept. 30, 2026, when Thai forces and monks raised a national flag at the Thmor Da International Border Checkpoint in Pursat province, which Cambodia said violates its sovereignty under the 1904 and 1907 treaties, the 2000 MOU and the GBC Joint Statement.
The Ministry expressed support for Prime Minister Hun Manet's appeal for national unity and urged Cambodians to oppose false information and attacks on Cambodian soldiers while the aggressors are praised, calling such conduct treason.
Source: Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
