Quote from Alex bobby on July 27, 2025, 6:40 AM

Cambodians Flee Thai Border as Crossfire Continues for Third Straight Day

As fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border intensifies for a third consecutive day, tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety from artillery shells, airstrikes, and rising tensions between the two Southeast Asian nations. An estimated  have reportedly been displaced, highlighting the growing humanitarian toll of the escalating border conflict.

The epicentre of the latest violence has been around the ancient temples of Ta Moan Thom and Ta Krabei, two long-contested sites along the 800km border separating Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province and Thailand’s Surin province. The sound of explosions has become a haunting backdrop for villagers and soldiers alike, many of whom are now injured or living in fear.

“My Clothes Were Blown Off”

In a hospital corridor in Oddar Meanchey, a Cambodian soldier lay waiting for surgery to remove shrapnel lodged in his back after being hit by a Thai artillery shell. “When I was hit, my clothes were blown off,” he said, describing the blast that left him wounded near the Ta Moan Thom temple. He recounted how local medical facilities lacked even an X-ray machine to assess his injuries.

Nearby, another injured Cambodian soldier shared his account of being struck near the Ta Krabei temple. The temples, like many others along the border, have long been flashpoints for territorial disputes, dating back decades and reignited most notably during the 2011 clashes near the Preah Vihear Temple.

Civilian Toll Mounts

By Saturday afternoon, more than 30 people had been confirmed dead, with casualties on both sides — at least 13 in Cambodia and 20 in Thailand. Many of the victims were civilians caught in the crossfire. Civilian infrastructure, including homes, farms, and even hospitals, has been damaged or destroyed in the fighting.

In Samraong district, one of the most heavily shelled regions in Cambodia, villagers have been forced to abandon their livelihoods and flee. Chheng Deab, a resident of a village just five kilometres from the border, is now sheltering with her children at a local primary school alongside dozens of displaced families. “I miss my home,” she said, “but if the shooting continues, we’ll keep moving. We don’t know when it’s going to finish.”

With aid slow to arrive, food is running low and anxiety is high. “We have little food left. If this continues, we’ll have nothing to eat,” she added.

Makeshift Relief and Fading Hope

At another makeshift shelter nearby, residents echoed similar concerns. One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, described how bombs started falling while people were still working in their fields. “We ran for our lives and couldn’t take everything we needed,” she said.

Local authorities and village chiefs have been coordinating grassroots relief efforts. In the absence of official support, communities have pooled their remaining rice and food supplies to help the most vulnerable. Yet, many fear this will not be sustainable if the fighting drags on.

Tit-for-Tat Escalation

What started as a localised clash has quickly morphed into a broader diplomatic and military confrontation. Thailand has accused Cambodia of deliberately planting new landmines near disputed sites — an accusation Phnom Penh strongly denies, stating the mines are remnants from its decades-long civil war. Cambodia, in turn, has accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, which are banned under international law.

The tit-for-tat has now spilled into the diplomatic arena. Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia’s envoy. Cambodia responded in kind, pulling its diplomats and downgrading diplomatic relations.

Fighting reportedly began in earnest on Thursday morning, though each side blames the other for firing the first shots. The exchange of machinegun, missile, and artillery fire has since spread to multiple points along the border, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

Leaders Trade Accusations

Thailand’s acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, accused Cambodian forces of launching long-range rockets into Thai civilian areas, including a hospital. He warned that war crimes investigations may be necessary.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, responded by accusing Thailand of launching “unprovoked, premeditated, and deliberate attacks” on Cambodian territory, and claimed his country has regained control of several disputed areas — a claim that remains unverified.

Both sides have since ramped up troop deployments along the border, signalling that this confrontation may not end soon. With both governments portraying the other as the aggressor, a diplomatic resolution appears increasingly unlikely in the short term.

A Region on the Brink

The renewed conflict has revived memories of the deadly 2011 border war, and international observers are watching closely. The loss of life, destruction of property, and displacement of nearly 180,000 people in less than a week have turned this border clash into a full-fledged crisis.

As families sleep on classroom floors, struggle to find food, and worry about homes and farms left behind, one thing is clear: unless immediate de-escalation efforts are made, the human cost of this conflict will only grow.

Conclusion

The ongoing Thai-Cambodian border clashes have already exacted a devastating toll in lives lost, communities displaced, and trust eroded. What began as a dispute over ancient temples has escalated into a humanitarian emergency, with tens of thousands now caught in the crossfire. As both governments dig in and diplomacy falters, the prospects for peace grow dimmer by the day. The international community must urgently intervene to prevent further bloodshed and stabilise a region teetering on the brink of deeper conflict.

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Ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia have displaced over 170,000 civilians and killed dozens, as ancient temple disputes reignite deadly violence.