Wat Kandoul hosts 1,326 refugee families, totalling nearly 5,000 people, including about 2,500 women and more than 1,700 children. - PPP
PHNOM PENH: Nearly two months after fighting broke out along the Thai-Cambodian border, thousands of residents remain unable to return home. Many are living in temporary safety centres while military obstacles and security risks continue to bar access to their villages.
At the Wat Kandoul Safety Centre in Thma Puok district, rows of tents shelter families whose lives were abruptly overturned.
Among them is 63-year-old Chhuy Ty from Samaki village in the Boeung Trakuon area, who fled on Dec 8, 2025, first to the Banteay Neang safety centre before being relocated to Wat Kandoul on Jan 5.
63-year-old Chhuy Ty from Samaki village in the Boeung Trakuon area, fled on December 8, 2025. - PPP
“Although my house is outside the area which is surrounded by barbed wire and shipping containers from the Thai military, we cannot live there because it is not safe,” she said, sitting inside a tent with her 85-year-old father-in-law.
Her home was struck by shelling, and the small trade that once sustained her family — selling prahok and other fermented fish products between villages — has stopped entirely.
“Before, we used to be safe, but now we are not. However, we must work hard for ourselves, for our country, for our territory and not surrender,” she said.
Provincial authorities report that Wat Kandoul hosts 1,326 refugee families, or nearly 5,000 people, including about 2,500 women and more than 1,700 children.
Another major site, Wat Chansi Safety Center in O’Chrov district, shelters over 1,200 families.
Across Banteay Meanchey, 12 safety centres are accommodating more than 3,300 families — over 12,000 people — half of them women and thousands children.
Roeun Chanthan, director of the O’Chrov district administration and a member of the Chansi Refugee Management Committee, said residents from Chouk Chey, Prey Chan and O’Beichaon villages have been prohibited from returning due to ongoing security concerns.
Thai troops install barbed wire and shipping containers in Chouk Chey village, including along National Road 58, which links O’Bei Chaon to Poipet. Hong Raksmey
“Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages have been surrounded by Thai military barbed wire and shipping containers, and some houses outside the encirclement have been almost completely destroyed,” he said, noting that the government has ordered residents not to go back for now.
While food supplies and water are available, nutrition remains a concern.
“They do not lack food, but what they face is insufficient nutrition because the food is mostly rice, noodles, canned fish and soy sauce,” Chanthan said, adding that meat is provided only occasionally through support from the agriculture minister and partner organizations.
Health workers at Wat Kandoul have observed flu symptoms, sore throats and mild infections among evacuees, conditions often linked to crowded living environments.
For 64-year-old Von Ron from Chouk Chey village, the uncertainty is devastating.
“It’s all gone! They took our house. How can we go back?” she said. “If we have no house, we have nothing left. Anyway, as long as we have land, we can build a hut.”
“I don't have any expectations. I'm old and can't go to work to earn money," she told The Post.
63-year-old Chhuy Ty from Samaki village in the Boeung Trakuon area, fled on Dec 8, 2025. Hong Raksmey
Beyond government assistance, acts of solidarity have emerged within the displaced community. Sok Pheaktra, a hairdresser who works in Siem Reap, regularly returns to the centre to provide free haircuts.
“I feel sorry for them. They have no income other than donations from philanthropists,” he said, explaining that he cuts the hair of about 10 refugees each visit.
Despite adequate basic supplies, many families say life in tents cannot replace the dignity of home — and with no clear timeline for return, temporary shelter risks becoming a long-term reality.
Thai soldiers barbed wire, shipping containers block Cambodian village’s homes
From Prey Chan Primary School, barbed wire, tyres and shipping containers have been erected by Thai military forces as part of what Bangkok has repeatedly claimed to be a new border line imposed by force.
The installations extend more than one kilometre from the previously recognised boundary, effectively preventing residents of the village from returning to their homes.
Thai troops install barbed wire and shipping containers in Chouk Chey village, including along National Road 58, which links O’Bei Chaon to Poipet.
On Jan 31, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence pressed Thailand to move forward on long-stalled border demarcation efforts and lodged a formal protest over Thai military actions, stressing that Cambodia does not recognise any change to the border resulting from the use of force.
Cambodia has urged Thailand to respond constructively and resume demarcation work, warning it will not recognise any alteration of the boundary line imposed through military action, while condemning continued activities by Thai forces that affect Cambodian civilians.
“These include areas between boundary pillars 42–47 and 52–59, as well as the replacement of 15 boundary markers that both sides previously agreed would be restored to their original locations and specifications,” the ministry said.
Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages are located between boundary pillars 42 and 47, an area currently occupied by Thai military forces.
The last two bilateral regional meetings, held on February 2 and 4, ended without agreement. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
