© WHO / Monika Mey
Wat Poh 5000 Derm is a pagoda space that has been turned into a displacement camp in Koulen district, Preah Vihear province. It is the largest temporary shelter in Cambodia, accommodating almost 20,000 people as of 5 August 2025.
© Credits

WHO responds to the urgent health needs of displaced communities in Cambodia

27 August 2025

The recent armed clashes in July 2025 along the Cambodia–Thailand border have displaced over 170,000 people, with the numbers continuing to shift as the situation unfolds. Additionally, a huge influx of Cambodian migrants has returned from Thailand, with over 860,000 coming back to the country.

A ceasefire was announced on 28 July, but many families continue to seek refuge in displacement camps—such as pagodas, schools, and makeshift shelters—as safety concerns persist. As of 15 August, around 30,000 people remain in displacement centres.

Public health impacts

On 31 July, the Ministry of Health in Cambodia reported the closure of 21 health facilities due to their proximity to the conflict border areas.

Inside displacement camps, temporary first-aid sites were set up to provide primary care services, while severe cases are referred to nearby health centres and hospitals. The lack of hygiene and sanitation measures in the overcrowded and inadequate shelters in the camps poses the risk of diseases, including food- and water-borne diseases.

Collage of four photos showing a makeshift camp with tarp tents, people on a tractor with supplies, a woman inside a tent, and two women sitting on the ground preparing food.

Displaced people living in makeshift shelters in Preah Vihear and Siem Reap, often under plastic sheets with little to no protection. © WHO / Monika Mey

Immediate health response

WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners to respond to the urgent health needs of communities and provide technical support on response and recovery.

  • WHO worked with the Ministry of Health to conduct the assessment of the health needs of the displaced populations and health response capacities in three affected provinces: Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, and Oddar Meanchey.
  • WHO donated the following emergency supplies to the Ministry of Health:
    • Emergency health kits were provided to support 10,000 people for three months.
    • A Trauma and Emergency Surgery Kit (TESK) was delivered, covering up to 100 surgeries.
    • Medical supplies, including dengue rapid diagnostic kits, jerrycans, and water purification tablets, with additional supplies in the pipeline.
  • WHO, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, assisted the Ministry of Health in providing routine immunization—including COVID-19 and measles-rubella vaccines—at temporary shelters in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces, to help protect displaced children.
  • WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health in building the capacity of lay counsellors and health professionals to provide psychological first aid and psychosocial support to civilians, frontline workers, and displaced persons in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
  • Disease surveillance, including event-based surveillance (EBS), is being strengthened to detect potential outbreaks.
  • As co-lead of the Health Sector under the Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF), WHO coordinates with partners to maintain critical health services and address gaps in affected areas.

A plan for recovery

WHO is committed to supporting Cambodia with the development of a recovery response plan for health. A key component of these efforts will be the strengthening of health system capacity to provide mental health and psychosocial support services as part of longer-term efforts to ensure sustainable, integrated service delivery. WHO will also support the strengthening of the detection of measles and the immunization response in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces.