Cambodians face uncertainty due to ongoing tensions with neighboring Thailand

Displacement Camps in Cambodia Remain a Concern for Families

A recent influx of displaced individuals from Thailand has left families in northwestern Cambodia struggling to cope with their new reality. The 11-year-old Sokna and her sister have stopped attending school since moving into a temporary camp, where they now live with their mother Puth Reen.

According to the Ministry of Interior, over 34,440 people remain in displacement camps in Cambodia, including 11,355 children. Many families have been forced to flee their homes due to ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in the deployment of local troops and opposing forces in certain areas.

The Cambodian government has provided some relief by offering wooden stilted houses to those who are fortunate enough to receive aid donations. However, many families continue to rely on assistance from external sources. The tenuous ceasefire along the Thai-Cambodia border means that life remains disrupted for these individuals.

Some areas on the Cambodian border have become focal points for nationalist sentiment, with locals expressing anger towards the Thai occupation of Cambodian territory. The use of shipping containers and barbed wire to block access to villages has been a contentious issue, with some communities feeling restricted from returning to their homes.

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

For families who have fled the fighting, education is becoming increasingly fragmented. Primary school students can attend classes at a local school, but high school students must travel daily to the provincial capital for their studies. The rising cost of petrol has further exacerbated the challenges faced by these individuals.

Source: Al Jazeera