Preah Vihear Temple Damaged by 2025 Clashes, Cambodia Seeks Continued International Support

AKP Phnom Penh, July 22, 2026 -- Cambodia has called on the international community to continue supporting the protection and restoration of the World Heritage Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear, highlighting the damage caused by the 2025 armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border and the need for sustained conservation efforts. The appeal was made by H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, while leading the Cambodian delegation to the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from July 19 to 29. Addressing the Committee, the Minister expressed Cambodia's gratitude to the Republic of Korea for hosting the session and thanked the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and their partners for their continued support in safeguarding the Temple of Preah Vihear. She also welcomed the international attention given to the temple following the armed conflicts along the Cambodia-Thailand border in 2025, particularly the joint World Heritage Centre-ICOMOS Advisory Mission conducted in March 2026 at Cambodia's invitation. The Minister informed the Committee that the armed clashes in July and December 2025 had caused significant damage to the World Heritage property, affecting its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), integrity and authenticity. Several structures were damaged by direct strikes, while local communities remain displaced and continue to be deprived of normal access to a site that is central to their cultural heritage, religious traditions and identity. She noted that, with support from UNESCO's Heritage Emergency Fund and other international partners, Cambodia has implemented a series of emergency measures, including the clearance of unexploded submunitions and artillery fragments, comprehensive three-dimensional documentation of the monument, emergency protection of vulnerable structures, and the inventorying and documentation of architectural fragments to facilitate future conservation and restoration. However, the Minister stressed that these emergency efforts cannot fully achieve their objectives while threats to the site persist. Cambodia drew the Committee's attention to the continued presence of Thai military forces in the immediate vicinity of the temple, as well as unilateral activities affecting Khmer cultural heritage sites within Cambodian territory, which risk further damage to cultural heritage and reflect a deliberate attempt to create a fait accompli on the ground. The Minister called on Thailand to respect international law and pursue a peaceful settlement of the border issue through the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Commission, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Dec. 27, 2025. Cambodia also requested the World Heritage Committee to maintain close monitoring of the Temple of Preah Vihear, continue supporting its urgent conservation and restoration, and reaffirm the importance of respecting international conventions governing the protection of cultural heritage. In closing, H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona said the damage suffered by the Temple of Preah Vihear serves as a reminder that protecting World Heritage is inseparable from preserving peace, promoting dialogue and upholding the shared responsibility of the international community. By C. Nika