UN Special Rapporteur to Visit Cambodian Border Displacement Camps

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia Thomas Andrews will travel to Cambodia’s border to personally assess the living conditions of Cambodian civilians displaced by the conflict along the Thai border, according to the Cambodian Senate. The visit was announced during a courtesy meeting between Andrews and Senate president Hun Sen this morning, July 22. Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith told media that Andrews said he had been closely monitoring developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border and intended to meet Cambodian families displaced by the conflict. According to the spokesperson, the UN special rapporteur wants to see first-hand the conditions facing displaced Cambodians and better understand the hardships they have endured as a result of the border conflict. Thyrith said Andrews expressed his intention to observe the humanitarian situation directly and speak with those affected in the border areas. Hun Sen thanked the special rapporteur for his interest in the situation along the border and welcomed his decision to visit displaced communities in person. The Senate president expressed his hopes that Andrews would witness first-hand the impact the conflict has had on Cambodian civilians who have been forced from their homes. During the meeting, Hun Sen also outlined Cambodia’s account of the history of the border dispute, noting that July 24, marks one year since the outbreak of the border conflict. According to Hun Sen, the two military incursions by Thai forces in 2025 forced nearly one million Cambodians to flee their homes for safety. He added that more than 3,000 Cambodian families have yet to return because their land and homes remain under what he described as the illegal occupation of Thai forces.