Public Health Situation Analysis - Cambodia - Conflict on Thai Border

Cambodia and Thailand have long disputed several non-demarcated areas along their shared 800-kilometre land border.

Tensions escalated in May 2025 following a fatal clash between soldiers, sparking a diplomatic crisis and increased military buildup on both sides. On 15 June, Cambodia appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution. The situation worsened after two landmine incidents injured Thai soldiers in July, with mutual accusations of provocation leading to intensified skirmishes and culminating in a major military confrontation on 24 July.

Despite the ceasefire that took effect on 28 July 2025, tensions between Cambodia and Thailand remain elevated following the capture of 20 Cambodian soldiers. Although two wounded soldiers were returned, 18 remain in Thai custody as of 17 August, prompting Cambodia to demand their release under international humanitarian law.

Following the 8 August General Border Committee (GBC) meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, large-scale returns of displaced people to their areas of origin along the Cambodia-Thailand border are taking place. Between 6 to 14 August, a 75% decrease in the number of internally displaced people (from 153 910 to 38 279 people) was reported by the Cambodia National Committee on Disaster Management (NCDM). Of the current number of people displaced, some 30 427 people are in the 77 remaining displacement sites, while 7852 people are hosted with friends and relatives. Meanwhile, the number of Cambodian migrants returning from Thailand increased to 864 114 people on 14 August, a 14 per cent increase from the 755 729 people reported by National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) on 6 August.