Cambodia Reports 18,703 Displaced Amid Border Tensions, Urges UN to Press Thailand on Truce

PHNOM PENH, September 7, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia said Monday that 18,703 people remain displaced and unable to return to their homes following renewed tensions along its border with Thailand, calling on the United Nations to press Bangkok to uphold a ceasefire agreement. In a statement issued September 6, the Ministry of Interior said more than 640,000 people had been displaced during the conflict, with 9,437 women and 6,066 children among those still unable to return. It blamed the continued displacement on what it described as Thai military occupation of civilian areas and restrictions on residents returning to their villages. Authorities reported widespread damage to private property, including 1,558 houses, seven civilian buildings, 10 hotels or apartment blocks, four petrol stations, a market, 34 vehicles, 10 motorcycles, a cassava warehouse, a storage facility, 39 mobile phone towers and six water-supply facilities. Public infrastructure was also hit, with 26 schools, 14 hospitals and health centres, 74 government buildings, 19 pagodas, five bridges, 87 sections of road, electricity transmission lines and four ancient temples damaged. The figures are preliminary and have not been independently verified. Fifteen schools and seven health centres in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces remain closed, affecting access to education and healthcare, the ministry said. Cambodia urged Thailand, fellow ASEAN member states, the United Nations and the wider international community to support implementation of the December ceasefire agreement. Separately, the Foreign Ministry lodged a formal protest last week over what it described as an unauthorised entry by a Thai military helicopter into Cambodian airspace. Officials said the helicopter crossed about 400 metres into Cambodian territory on September 3 near the Daung International Border Checkpoint in Battambang province. Phnom Penh said the incident constituted a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty, international law and existing bilateral agreements.