Escalating airstrikes, rising civilian deaths, and mass displacement are intensifying fears of a widening humanitarian crisis along the Thailand–Cambodia border as both sides press ahead with military operations.
Cambodia’s Interior Ministry has confirmed that the civilian death toll from the ongoing border conflict has risen to 17, with at least 77 people injured, underscoring the growing human cost of the fighting along the Cambodia–Thailand frontier.
Fresh bombings by Thai fighter jets have further intensified hostilities, triggering large scale evacuations and deepening concerns over civilian safety. On December 15, Thai F-16 aircraft dropped two bombs near the Srei Snam district border in Siem Reap province, according to Cambodia’s National Defence Ministry. The strikes prompted a new wave of residents to flee the area as fear spread across nearby communities. Local authorities said the bombs appeared to have targeted the Ou Chik Bridge, though it remains unclear whether bomb fragments crossed into Siem Reap territory. Technical teams were deployed to assess damage while officials stood ready to support displaced civilians.
Officials in Oddar Meanchey province confirmed that explosions were heard during the incident but said the full extent of the damage remains under investigation. No immediate injuries or fatalities were reported from this latest bombing. However, authorities stressed that emergency services remain on alert should the security situation deteriorate further. These attacks followed a series of border clashes that began on December 7, steadily escalating tensions and drawing increasing international attention to the humanitarian fallout.
The Interior Ministry of Cambodia reiterated that the civilian death toll has climbed to 17, with at least 77 injured across multiple provinces. Two civilians were reportedly killed at a safety shelter in Koh Kong province, while others sustained injuries in Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey. Cambodian authorities accused Thai forces of unprovoked aggression against Cambodia’s sovereign territory, alleging repeated violations of existing ceasefire agreements and warning that such actions are worsening instability along the border.
The fighting has triggered large scale displacement across seven provinces, with 131,672 families, approximately 438,953 people, forced to abandon their homes. Women and children make up a significant share of those displaced, including 225,572 women and 134,602 children. Banteay Meanchey province recorded the highest number of evacuees, followed by Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Pursat, Koh Kong, and Kampot. Temporary shelters have been established, but local officials warn that resources are under strain as displacement continues.
Civilian infrastructure has suffered extensive damage amid the fighting. Homes, schools, hospitals, pagodas, customs offices, bridges, and agricultural facilities have all been affected, disrupting daily life across large areas. Essential services such as healthcare, education, and public administration have been nearly suspended in several districts, compounding the humanitarian crisis. On the Thai side, reports indicate that 19 Thai soldiers have been killed in the border clashes, including two additional fatalities following heavy fighting over disputed territory.
As military operations continue on both sides, Cambodian authorities are urging international attention to the human cost of the conflict. They have called for urgent measures to protect civilians, prevent further displacement, and address the growing humanitarian emergency unfolding along the Thailand–Cambodia border.
