Chong Kal, Cambodia | December 12, 2025 — Hundreds of thousands of residents have fled their homes as tensions escalate along the Thailand-Cambodia border, with Chong Kal village in northern Cambodia becoming a critical hub for displaced families. Evacuation camps, overwhelmed by the influx, are struggling to provide basic necessities amid reports of sporadic clashes between military forces.
Local authorities report that over 120,000 people have sought refuge in Chong Kal since hostilities intensified last week. "We are rationing food and water, but supplies are dwindling," said Sok Vanna, a Red Cross coordinator at the camp. Medical teams warn of rising health risks as monsoon rains exacerbate unsanitary conditions.
The conflict, rooted in a decades-old territorial dispute near the Preah Vihear temple complex, has drawn international concern. ASEAN officials called for restraint during emergency talks this week, while the UN Refugee Agency announced plans to deploy additional aid convoys to the region.
Residents like 58-year-old farmer Chheang Sam Ath describe fleeing with only essential belongings: "We heard explosions at dawn and left immediately. Now we wait, hoping peace returns." Cross-border trade routes remain suspended, impacting regional economies already strained by post-pandemic recovery efforts.
