Monks and Residents Provide Food Aid to Border Troops in Oddar Meanchey Province

In the northern Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey, monks and residents from Sot Nikum district have provided food, essential supplies, and cash to Cambodian border guards stationed along the border with Thailand. This initiative embodies the spirit of national solidarity and gratitude towards the soldiers defending the nation's territorial integrity. On the afternoon of July 15, 2026, Venerable Lon Sambi, the chief monk of Munthean Pagoda and deputy chief monk of Sot Nikum district, along with local administrative officials and numerous Buddhist followers, organized the delivery of food supplies, essential goods, and necessary materials, accompanied by financial contributions, to frontline troops stationed in the border areas of Oddar Meanchey province. Venerable Lon Sambi stated that this noble humanitarian act was carried out under the spirit of "supporting the front lines from the rear." It aims to alleviate the hardships faced by the soldiers and to express gratitude for their heroic sacrifices, their physical and mental dedication, and their courageous patrols in defending the nation's borders. "Although the monks reside in pagodas in the rear, the hearts and spirits of the monks and our Buddhist followers are always with the frontline soldiers," Venerable Sambi continued. "The provision of these offerings and food supplies today is to show that the soldiers are not alone and that the entire homeland is always behind them." Ms. Heng Bunvuthy, Deputy Director of the Sot Nikum District Administration, expressed her gratitude to the soldiers guarding the Cambodia-Thailand border, highlighting their dedication, physical and mental strength, and spirit in standing guard along the border lines day and night without regard for fatigue. She added that the solidarity between the rear and the front lines demonstrates the strong attention and spiritual support from the local authorities to the soldiers fulfilling their duty of defending territorial integrity. Representatives of the military expressed their profound joy and gratitude to the monks and Buddhist followers from Siem Reap province. They stated that this noble spirit and action serve not only as food assistance but also as a powerful "medicine for the soul," further strengthening the soldiers' morale and resolve in their mission to protect the motherland. This event clearly reflects the Cambodian people's culture of sharing, their love for one another, and their robust national solidarity. Regardless of the circumstances, the Buddhist clergy and the secular administration always walk hand in hand, mutually supporting each other for the singular cause of the nation. Source: AKP Khmer