In the Shadow of Temporary Shelters: Cambodian Families Displaced by Thai Border Clashes

In the shadow of the temporary shelters lining Cambodia's northwest border, hundreds of displaced families wait—sometimes for months—to return to their homes. According to them, their lands and homes, occupied by Thai forces following sporadic but recurring clashes, have become the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis compounded by a persistent diplomatic dispute.

@Rim Dikhim

Yet, while awaiting a negotiated resolution, many of these families say they retain their trust in the royal government, which they view as determined to uphold the country's territorial integrity.

Mrs. Rim Dikhim, a former merchant evacuated from the Boeung Trakuon area in Banteay Meanchey province, embodies this mix of waiting and hope. Just days before the universal New Year, as she did every year, she had invested most of her savings to restock her merchandise.

"I had bought products a few days before the conflict started. Today, I have nothing left: no house, no source of income," she confides from the relocation site where she now lives with her two children.

Her husband, who stayed behind to watch over their plot, has been unreachable for several weeks due to lack of network coverage in the disputed area.

Her story is emblematic of a situation affecting more than three hundred families tallied by provincial authorities. Though receiving minimal food and health aid, these families express growing economic distress. Many lived off agriculture or small-scale cross-border trade, activities now halted by security measures and the closure of several informal crossing points.

"My greatest wish is to go home. I trust the royal government: I know it will find a solution and allow me to recover my house one day," adds Mrs. Rim Dikhim.

She stresses that she does not see herself as a "resigned victim," but as a citizen placing her faith in institutions to resolve this border dispute in accordance with the law.

On the diplomatic front, Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued multiple formal protests in recent months. According to internal documents—a copy of which was shared with the press—no fewer than eight verbal notes were sent to Bangkok between January and March 2026, denouncing armed incursions and the construction of temporary structures on Cambodian territory. Phnom Penh urges the Thai side to respect in "good faith" the joint declarations from the Joint Border Commission (JBC) as well as the spirit of the 2000 memorandum of understanding on border demarcation.

The royal government also reaffirms its commitment to international legal mechanisms. In a statement released on March 18, the ministry spokesperson reminded that Cambodia "recognizes no border changes obtained by force," in implicit reference to the 2013 International Court of Justice ruling on the Preah Vihear temple case, which confirmed Cambodian sovereignty over the surrounding area. Authorities also point out that Article 2, paragraph 4, of the UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of states.

These legal principles resonate with international observers. In a report published last February, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on both countries to ensure the protection of civilian populations and respect the land rights of displaced persons. The organization also highlighted the particular vulnerability of female heads of household, who are numerous in the border area.

On the ground, local authorities' actions remain constrained by the lack of secure access to certain plots. The governor of Banteay Meanchey province, reached by phone, said technical teams are working on precise mapping of affected properties, in collaboration with the National Border Management Committee.

"We maintain a detailed registry. Every family will be able to assert its rights as soon as the diplomatic situation allows," he assured.

In the meantime, life in the relocation sites revolves around immediate priorities: access to drinking water, children's schooling, and resuming income-generating activities. Several local NGOs, in partnership with the Cambodian Red Cross, have set up psychological support and microcredit programs. Yet uncertainty remains the main burden.

For Mrs. Rim Dikhim, as for many others, the symbolic dimension of home goes beyond mere material concerns.

"This house, I built it stone by stone with my husband. It's not just a roof; it's my children's future. The government knows that, and it won't abandon us," she repeats.

The royal government, which has made border stability a central pillar of its foreign policy, seems aware of both the humanitarian urgency and the sovereignty imperative. The coming weeks could be decisive, with technical talks announced between the two capitals under ASEAN auspices. For the displaced of Banteay Meanchey, the outcome of these negotiations will determine not only the fate of their lands, but also the trust they place in the rule of law and the republican promise of a protected territory.