Frontière & Solidarité: the Bophana Centre supports displaced families in Svay Leu

In the province of Siem Reap, a rare scene of solidarity unfolded within the peaceful Svay Leu pagoda. Where silence and contemplation usually reign, the grateful voices of displaced families echoed that day as they gathered in anticipation of vital support.

It was also the scene of a humanitarian effort that came not only from Cambodia, but also from across the Pacific: thanks to the joint mobilisation of friends and partners in the United States and Cambodia, the Bophana Centre was able to provide concrete assistance to 221 refugee families.

These families, temporarily housed within the monastery grounds, still bear the scars of the recent border tensions that have disrupted their daily lives. Behind each face is a story of anguish and uprooting. Behind each gaze is the fragile hope of a return to stability. It was to respond to these urgent needs, but also to show a fraternal presence, that the Bophana Centre team travelled to the site, carrying food and basic necessities.

The act of bringing rice, food and a few essential items may, at first glance, seem modest compared to the immense challenges these families face. Yet, in the context of a life that has been brutally displaced, every gesture takes on profound meaning. This donation, beyond its tangible value, sends a message: "You are not alone. "

The Centre's team did not come for a simple distribution. They stayed to listen. To listen to the distress of parents worried about their children's future. To listen to the weariness of the elderly, uprooted from their land. To listen to the fragile but resilient voices of those who hope to return home soon. This patient and non-judgmental listening is perhaps the most invisible but most essential part of the intervention.

In Cambodia, where the wounds of the past still resonate in the collective memory, every initiative of solidarity reminds us of the importance of human bonds, beyond borders and differences. The participation of American partners, combined with that of friends on the ground, symbolises a chain of mutual aid that spans oceans and demonstrates that local crises no longer isolate, but unite.

The Bophana Centre's thanks to all the teams present are not just formal words: they remind us that on the ground, humanitarian aid relies on faces, arms and energy offered tirelessly. So, 3 August 2025 in Svay Leu was not just a distribution of aid, but an act of human solidarity where the words ‘support’ and ‘dignity’ took on their full meaning.

And while difficulties remain for these families, they now know that a hand has been extended to them, reminding them that even in the midst of hardship, hope can be found.