Thai Government Approves Additional 240.75 Million Baht for Cambodia Border Impact Victims

The Thai government has approved an additional budget of 240.75 million baht to provide relief to citizens and state officials affected by the conflict situation along the Thai-Cambodia border. This expansion aims to ensure continuous and comprehensive assistance for those impacted between December 26, 2025, and July 23, 2026. The additional funds will be drawn from the central budget reserve for emergencies or necessities. The allocation is divided among the Ministry of Interior (65 million baht), the Ministry of Defence (166.25 million baht), and the Royal Thai Police (9.5 million baht). These three agencies will be responsible for disbursing the aid according to established criteria. This latest allocation follows a Cabinet resolution on December 30, 2023, which approved an initial relief framework and budget of 577.3 million baht for those affected between August 3 and December 25, 2023. The resolution also stipulated that if further impacts occurred and the initial budget was insufficient, relevant agencies could request additional allocations. The Office of the National Security Council, acting as the central coordinating body, has gathered data from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, and the Royal Thai Police. It has also instructed all agencies to meticulously verify the list of affected individuals, details of injuries or fatalities, and the requested compensation amounts to prevent double payments and ensure aid reaches the rightful recipients. Eligibility for injured individuals will be determined based on the revised criteria for compensation for those affected by the Thai-Cambodia border situation. If there are subsequent changes in diagnosis, such as a severely injured person later passing away, the responsible agency must update the information and follow the necessary procedures to ensure the correct compensation is provided. The Ministry of Finance deemed the proposed additional compensation rates appropriate. The Budget Bureau approved the allocation of 240.75 million baht, emphasizing that expenditures must adhere to the guidelines and be auditable at every step. The National Economic and Social Development Council raised no objections and recommended swift allocation and disbursement of funds to the affected parties. "The government remains committed to continuously caring for citizens and state officials affected by border situations. This increase in the relief budget aims to ensure that eligible individuals receive fair and comprehensive compensation without being overlooked. We have instructed all agencies to expedite data verification and disbursement to reach the affected individuals as quickly as possible," stated the Deputy Government Spokesperson. Source: INN News