Cambodia: Over 6,000 Children Displaced by Border Conflict, Return Home Uncertain

In the northeastern province of Preah Vihear, Cambodia, a significant number of children, exceeding 6,000, are living in displacement due to the protracted border conflict with Thailand. According to reports from the state-run CEN Cambodia, the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing morning meals to these displaced children and supporting their continued education in temporary conditions, aiming to offer a degree of normalcy. However, Information Minister Net Phay Siphan emphasized that while humanitarian aid can alleviate suffering, it cannot replace the homes, schools, and the fundamental right of children to return to their normal lives. He expressed gratitude to the WFP and the people of Japan for their assistance, but stressed that humanitarian aid is merely a palliative measure and not a solution to the root causes preventing their return. The displaced children are largely affected by the conflict stemming from alleged incursions by the Thai military into Cambodian territory. Cambodia claims that the Thai military has erected barriers and barbed wire in border areas, obstructing the return of residents. This situation transcends territorial disputes, creating grave human rights and child rights issues, including the right to housing, the right to education for children, and the fragmentation of communities. The Cambodian government is urging Thailand to strictly adhere to the joint declaration of December 27, 2025, which mandates the safe and dignified return of displaced persons. Cambodia argues that a ceasefire should not only mean the cessation of gunfire but also the prevention of territorial advances, the creation of new situations on the ground, and actions that hinder the safe return of its citizens. While WFP's assistance and temporary schooling offer immediate support, what these children truly need is not an improved displaced life, but a return to their homes, schools, and secure communities. With over 6,000 children awaiting their return, the international community is called upon not just to ask how they can be helped, but to address the fundamental question: 'Why can't they go home yet?' The report concludes that true peace means not only the silence of guns but also the removal of obstacles on the land, enabling families to return safely.