A school in Preah Vihear province lies abandoned. - Photo: Andy Novell
PHNOM PENH: As fighting on the Cambodia-Thailand border intensifies, countless families have moved to roadside camps, pagodas and temporary shelters across Preah Vihear province.
Many arrived with few belongings, relying on volunteer networks, monks and local authorities for immediate support.
At one displacement camp in Preah Vihear, a young mother sat beneath a temporary shelter holding her one-month-old baby.
She fled her village after nearby missile impacts were reported, leaving just weeks after giving birth. The infant was born shortly before the escalation worsened.
The mother now depends on donated formula, shared water supplies and the assistance of other displaced families.
There is no private shelter, and her nights are spent exposed to wind, noise and constant movement as new arrivals continue to enter the camp.
Volunteers say newborns and post-partum mothers face heightened risks due to limited sanitation and inconsistent access to medical care.
For her, displacement is not measured in territorial lines or political statements, but in keeping her baby warm, fed and safe amid uncertainty.
Community Impact
Daily life in border areas has been severely disrupted. Schools have been suspended, farmland abandoned and local economies halted.
Families report being separated during evacuations, with some unsure when or if they will be able to return home.
Residents interviewed describe fear of further strikes, but also concern that prolonged displacement will deepen hardship, especially for children born into the crisis.
Cambodia's Position
Cambodian officials state that the country is seeking de-escalation and international attention, while raising concerns over civilian harm and violations of sovereignty. Appeals have been made for humanitarian access and monitoring to ensure protection for non-combatants.
Conclusion
From the Cambodian side, the current situation is defined not by military exchanges but by civilian survival — displaced families sheltering in pagodas, hospitals under strain and mothers caring for newborns in makeshift camps.
As diplomatic efforts continue, communities in northern Cambodia remain in limbo, relying on local solidarity and limited humanitarian aid while awaiting stability that, for now, remains uncertain. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
[Andy Novell is a British freelancer.]
