Phnom Penh: More than 20,000 Cambodians remain displaced along the country's border with Thailand, even though the worst of the fighting has ended, according to a United Nations human rights expert. The UN has called on both countries to work together to ensure that families can safely return to their homes and rebuild their lives after months of conflict and uncertainty.
Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, visited communities affected by the border clashes and said that while many displaced people have already returned home, thousands are still living in temporary shelters. He noted that around 650,000 people were forced to flee during the peak of the conflict, making it one of the largest population movements in the region in recent years. Most have now gone back, but many families remain unable to do so because their villages are still considered unsafe or inaccessible.
Speaking after his visit, Andrews said every displaced person has the right under international law to return home safely and voluntarily. He urged both Cambodia and Thailand to speed up efforts to remove obstacles preventing civilians from returning and to ensure that humanitarian assistance continues to reach those who remain displaced.
The border dispute between the two neighbouring countries continues to complicate recovery efforts. Cambodia has accused Thailand of keeping troops in civilian areas that should have been vacated under the ceasefire agreement reached after last year's fighting. According to Cambodian officials, the continued military presence has prevented residents from returning to their homes and restarting their daily lives.
Thailand has rejected those accusations, maintaining that its forces are acting within the terms of the ceasefire agreement and denying that it occupies Cambodian civilian territory. The disagreement over troop positions has delayed the reopening of several affected areas and continues to create uncertainty for thousands of families waiting to return.
The ongoing closure of border crossings has also become a major concern for local communities. Before the conflict, many people living near the frontier depended on cross border trade for their income. Farmers, traders and small business owners regularly transported goods between the two countries. With the crossings remaining closed, many families have lost their main source of earnings and are struggling to recover economically even after the fighting has subsided.
Humanitarian agencies have also highlighted the continuing needs of displaced communities. The World Health Organization and other aid organisations have reported that several Cambodian provinces, including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Siem Reap, were heavily affected by the conflict. Many displaced families still require shelter, healthcare, clean water, food assistance and other basic services while waiting for conditions to improve.
During the same visit, Andrews also commented on Cambodia's campaign against large scale online scam operations, which have attracted international attention in recent years. He acknowledged that the Cambodian government has made noticeable progress in dismantling criminal networks involved in cyber fraud.
According to figures shared during his visit, authorities have shut down more than 600 scam compounds, suspended or revoked the licences of 29 casinos and launched criminal proceedings against around 3,000 suspected scam operators. Andrews described these actions as important steps but said stronger measures are still needed to hold powerful individuals accountable if credible evidence links them to organised cyber crime.
International organisations have repeatedly warned that criminal scam centres operating across Southeast Asia have trafficked thousands of workers and generated billions of dollars through online fraud. Cambodia has faced growing pressure from the international community to strengthen law enforcement and improve protection for victims.
Although active fighting along the Cambodia Thailand border has largely stopped following the ceasefire agreement, the humanitarian impact of the conflict continues to be felt. Thousands of displaced families remain uncertain about when they will be able to return home, while communities near the border continue to face economic hardship because of restricted movement and closed trade routes.
The United Nations has stressed that lasting peace will require cooperation between both governments, respect for international law and continued support for affected civilians. Until unresolved territorial disputes are settled and security concerns are addressed, thousands of Cambodian families are expected to remain displaced, hoping that they can soon return to their homes and rebuild their lives.