Cambodian Families Flee Border Fighting as Humanitarian Fears Grow

Post by : Saif Nasser

The recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have pushed thousands of innocent families into fear, hunger and deep uncertainty. People living near the disputed border areas had little time to react when gunfire and explosions began. Many of them ran through chaos, carrying only a few belongings, and are now struggling to survive in overcrowded shelters with very limited food and clean water.

One of them is 54-year-old Cambodian casino worker Chay Rey. She and her husband fled their home in the dark as bullets flew above their heads. She said her heart felt as if it would break because she feared they would be killed at any moment. Now she is living at a temple in Srei Snam town, along with about 500 others who escaped the violence. But the fear has been replaced with another crisis: hunger and thirst. She said there is no rice, no money and no clean drinking water. Children are asking their parents for food, and many parents have nothing to give.

Across six Cambodian provinces, more than 130,000 people have now moved into over 100 evacuation centres. But the number of people arriving is rising much faster than the support that is available. Aid groups say that the situation is more serious than the last major outbreak of fighting in July, which affected only two provinces. This time, the needs are greater, and domestic resources are already stretched thin. More than 800,000 Cambodian workers have also returned from Thailand because of the unrest, adding extra pressure on local communities and government services.

According to Janes Imanuel Ginting, the national director of World Vision in Cambodia, the biggest problems right now are food, drinking water, proper shelter and sanitation. He said that most families are surviving on instant noodles and small amounts of rice provided by local authorities and public donations. Humanitarian groups have started helping, but the demand is far higher than what they can supply at the moment. The situation could worsen if fighting continues along the border.

The sadness and fear among evacuees can be heard in the voice of 53-year-old Linh Thoem, who fled the Trapeang Ampel district. He managed to reach a shelter with some of his relatives, but he had to leave his children behind because they needed to take care of their cattle. He said that as long as the fighting does not get worse, the children will stay in the village. But if the situation becomes more dangerous, he has no choice but to bring them to the shelter and leave the animals behind. For families like his, their cattle are their only source of income and survival, and abandoning them is a painful decision.

His shelter currently has running water, food and a medical team, but he is worried that these supplies will run out if more people arrive or if the fighting goes on for many more days. He said he brought some food for a short period, but if the conflict continues, his family will not have enough to eat. Many others share the same fear as they watch their small supplies slowly disappear.

The border tension between the two countries has a long history, and small clashes have occurred many times in the past. But this round of fighting has caused far greater displacement and suffering. The speed of the evacuations, the large number of families arriving and the already-strained resources have created a humanitarian emergency that cannot be ignored. Most of the displaced people are poor villagers who had simple lives before the fighting began. Now they are living in crowded shelters with almost nothing, waiting for news about when it might be safe to return home.

Children, elderly people and women are the ones suffering the most. Many walked long distances in the heat while carrying their belongings. Some arrived sick, tired and hungry. Aid workers worry that the lack of clean water and proper sanitation could lead to diseases if the situation is not addressed quickly. Families are also deeply worried about the future of their homes, their land and their safety.

As the shooting continues in some areas, the fear in the shelters grows heavier. Many people listen to radio updates or wait for relatives to call, hoping for some good news. Others pray at temples, asking for peace and protection. For now, there is no clear sign of when the fighting will stop.

The crisis shows again how border conflicts affect ordinary people the most. While governments exchange warnings and accusations, villagers lose their homes, livelihoods and security. The evacuees in Cambodia need urgent support, not only to survive the coming days but to rebuild their lives once the violence ends.

International organisations and neighbouring countries will have to increase their assistance if the humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Food, water, medicine and temporary shelter are all needed immediately. Without stronger support, the suffering of the displaced families will grow even deeper.

The people of Cambodia did not choose this conflict. They only want safety, dignity and a chance to return to their homes. Until peace returns to the border, their struggle will continue, and the world must not turn away from their desperate situation.