A new Unicef programme targets children under five, primary school pupils and caregivers, prioritising those living in evacuation sites and host communities. - Supplied
PHNOM PENH: Thousands of the Cambodian children displaced by the recent Cambodia–Thailand border conflict are receiving emergency support to prevent malnutrition and learning loss, as schools and health services in affected areas remain disrupted.
At the height of the clashes, more than 600,000 people were forced from their homes across seven provinces, including over 200,000 children and 300,000 women.
Prolonged displacement has left families in temporary shelters with limited access to education, healthcare and adequate nutrition, placing young children and mothers at heightened risk.
In response, Unicef Cambodia has launched a one-year emergency initiative that focuses on safeguarding children’s health, education and protection in border-affected communities.
The programme targets children under five, primary school pupils and caregivers, prioritising those living in evacuation sites and host communities.
“When crisis strikes, children are always the most vulnerable,” said Will Parks, Unicef Cambodia representative.
“Even short disruptions to nutrition and learning can have long-term consequences for a child’s development. Our focus is to ensure that children continue learning and receive the nutrition they need to survive and thrive during emergencies,” he added.
Under the initiative, more than 10,000 children under five will undergo rapid nutrition screening, with treatment provided for cases of acute malnutrition.
Nearly 9,500 caregivers will receive counselling on infant and young child feeding practices suited to emergency conditions, as health outreach services work to fill gaps left by disrupted clinics.
To address learning loss, Uniecef is distributing home-learning packages to 2,000 primary school students and early childhood development kits to 5,000 younger children living in temporary shelters.
The materials are designed to support safe play, early learning and psychosocial well-being while schools remain closed or operate at reduced capacity.
Child protection is also a core component of the response.
The programme integrates measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, aiming to safeguard dignity and safety in crowded displacement settings where children and women are particularly vulnerable.
The emergency initiative is supported by contributions from the private sector, including telecom operator SMART Axiata, which has partnered with Unicef to help fund the response.
While humanitarian agencies remain at the forefront, the partnership reflects growing private sector involvement in addressing the social impacts of conflict.
“At Smart, caring for our communities is who we are,” said Ritesh Kumar Singh, Smart chief executive officer. He noted that the company’s support is intended to help children continue learning and access essential nutrition during the crisis.
Aid agencies warn that without sustained support, the effects of the border conflict on children could extend well beyond the immediate emergency.
Prolonged interruptions to schooling and nutrition, they say, risk deepening inequality and undermining long-term human development in affected provinces.
As displacement continues for many families, Unicef has called for coordinated efforts from government, development partners and the private sector to ensure that children are not left behind in the fallout of the border crisis. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
