Cambodians face uncertain futures amidst ongoing tensions with neighboring Thailand

Displacement Camps in Cambodia Remain a Concern for Families

The number of people displaced by recent border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has led to concerns among families regarding their children’s education. According to the Ministry of Interior, 34,440 individuals remain in displacement camps in Cambodia, with 11,355 being children.

In one such camp, located in the grounds of a Buddhist pagoda in northwestern Cambodia, an 11-year-old girl named Sokna and her sister have stopped attending school since moving into the camp. Their mother, Puth Reen, stated that she had tried to encourage them to attend classes but they did not.

The situation for families displaced by the conflict is precarious. Many are surviving on aid donations, while some have been provided with wooden stilted houses by the Cambodian government. However, tensions between the leadership in Bangkok and Phnom Penh remain, making it difficult for life to return to normality.

In some areas along the Thai-Cambodia border, such as Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages in Banteay Meanchey province, nationalist groups have taken to social media to express their anger towards the Thai occupation of Cambodian territory. The use of shipping containers and barbed wire by Thai forces has become a contentious issue.

The long-held border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into two rounds of conflict last year, resulting in dozens of reported deaths and hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing their homes. A ceasefire was reached on December 27, but the situation remains tense five months later.

For families who fled the fighting, education has become fragmented. Primary school students can attend classes at a local school, while high school students must travel daily to the provincial capital for classes. The rising cost of petrol due to ongoing conflicts in other regions is also affecting the lives of displaced individuals.

Source: Al Jazeera