Cambodian Red Cross to Strengthen Cooperation with ICRC, Aiming to Enhance Disaster and Conflict Response Capabilities

Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross, held a meeting with a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to discuss the cooperation between the two organizations. The meeting took place at the Cambodian Red Cross headquarters in Phnom Penh on the morning of Thursday, July 2, 2026. President Bun Rany expressed her gratitude to the ICRC for being a strong and long-standing partner of Cambodia since 1979. The ICRC's significant presence has aided Cambodia by facilitating the reunion of families separated during the Khmer Rouge era, providing new residences, and promoting education about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, its fundamental principles, and international humanitarian law. This has helped to re-establish the Cambodian Red Cross as a national society providing humanitarian aid. Furthermore, President Bun Rany expressed her deepest gratitude to the ICRC, particularly to Mr. Yock Montany, Head of Delegation for the ICRC in the region. He visited and delivered letters from the families of 18 Cambodian combatants to the soldiers who were under Thai custody during recent clashes. At that time, only the ICRC could access the detention sites, facilitating their release and safe repatriation. The ICRC's impartiality and diligence have restored hope and smiles to affected families and the Cambodian people, clearly demonstrating the fruitful results of the partnership between the ICRC and the Cambodian Red Cross. President Bun Rany also stated that she considers the International Committee of the Red Cross, represented by Mr. Yock Montany and Ms. Doza Nazemi Salmen, Head of Mission for ICRC in Cambodia, as "brothers" and "sisters" who have always looked after all national societies, especially the Cambodian Red Cross, during 2025-2026. In addition, President Bun Rany requested the ICRC to continue providing support to the Cambodian Red Cross, particularly in technical assistance, human resource training, and financial contributions. In response, Mr. Yock Montany, Head of Delegation for the ICRC in the region, affirmed his strong commitment to continue providing technical, financial, and human resources to the Cambodian Red Cross. Concurrently, he expressed great interest and gratitude to the Cambodian Red Cross, noting that the Cambodian Red Cross, its volunteers, and youth volunteers are timely disseminating knowledge about mine risks, trained by the ICRC and the Cambodian Red Cross, to communities. This aims to instill and change public behavior to avoid mine-related dangers, which is currently being implemented along the Cambodian-Thai border provinces. It is reported that in 2026, the ICRC will send its delegation for approximately 6 to 8 weeks to assist the Cambodian Red Cross in preparing documents, strengthening capacities in disaster response, as well as responding to armed conflicts. This includes expanding education and dissemination of international humanitarian law among armed forces and students, and organizing inter-ministerial workshops. Source: CPP Cambodia