Banteay Ampil Camp, Oddar Meanchey Province—Just two days old, baby Seyha rests nestled between his mother and grandmother. His tiny form is both fragile and glowing with life, against the backdrops of displacement and uncertainty. His mother, 20-year-old Khun Khal, cradles him gently inside a makeshift shelter stitched together with a thin tarp. The memory of gunfire on the night of 24 July still echoes in her mind. Alongside her husband, 20-year-old Pek Chhin, and her mother, 42-year-old Ken Leav, she fled their home after the abrupt clash of artillery fire shattered the quiet of their village. The journey was chaotic: rain mingled with smoke; thunder mimicked gunfire; and fears clung to every step. Families fled with only what they could carry in their arms. “It felt like ages. We left in the morning and arrived at the camp at night. I was terrified – my daughter was due to give birth any day,” says Leav. A week later, Seyha was born when they were in the camp. Life here is harsh. Monsoon rains soak shelter at night, turning the floor wet and muddy and the air chilling. Nights are long and sleepless. Bathing is a daily challenge. Chhin navigates slippery trails to fetch water from communal water points, balancing what he could carry with anxious care. In the dim shelter, under Leav’s watchful gaze, Khal washes Seyha with just a few sips. Chhin’s voice cracks as whispers, “I’m scared my wife and baby will fall ill without enough clean water.”  Food is basic and monotonous—rice, oil, noodles, dried fish. Fresh vegetables, fruits, or milk rarely make their way into the camp. Khal worries if her own limited nutrition is enough to nourish Seyha through breastfeeding.Health risks loom large: diarrhea, fever, cough sweep through the crowded, damp camps. No malnutrition screening is in place, even as Cambodia’s wasting rate hovers near 10 percent—a silent threat to newborns like Seyha. Yet, in the quiet rhythm of Seyha’s breath, Khal looks softly at the baby and murmurs: “I only want him to feel love, not fear.” Her gaze shifts to Leav, sitting silently nearby, offering strength in absence of infrastructure, and Chhin, whose every careful move spells love in action, not words. In that whispered phrase lies something profound: a newborn’s soft breath could outlive conflict—if we help make sure of it.   Read WFP Cambodia Country Brief June-August 2025  

In the village of O’Krasa, Kep Province, Dr Hun Sokkea, the Director of the O’Krasa Health Center is leading the fight against tuberculosis (TB). At just 35, she has dedicated over a decade to keeping her community healthy and informed.Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, claiming 1.5 million lives annually. Cambodia has made remarkable progress in combating TB, as reflected in two surveys conducted in 2002 and 2011. Over that period, Cambodia achieved a 45% reduction in the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed TB.However, challenges persist. According to Dr Sokkea, many residents lack awareness about TB, underestimating its risks and believing it only affects those with a family history. This misconception hinders early detection and treatment, further fueling transmission.Health workers at the O’Krasa Health Center play a critical role in combating these challenges. They provide free treatment, educate patients, and raise awareness about prevention. Community outreach efforts aim to identify at-risk individuals, helping curb TB transmission and reduce its impact on livelihoods.A significant milestone for the community came with the third TB Prevalence Survey, launched in 2023 with field operations completed in May 2024. Conducted across 84 sites, the survey confirmed a continued decline in TB prevalence. “We are proud that Cambodians are contributing to understanding TB’s burden and seeking timely treatment,” said Dr Huot Chan Yuda, Director of the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control.While the official launch of the results and report is planned for March 2025, the preliminary survey results are already shaping Cambodia’s TB strategic interventions for 2025–2027. One key finding revealed that 33,3% of TB cases in 2023 were asymptomatic, compared to 10% in 2011. In response, the program has started introducing AI-assisted chest X-ray technology to improve community screening.Dr Sokkea hopes to inspire more residents to seek regular health screenings, emphasizing the importance of early intervention. As she reflects, “Health is the most important thing. If we have good health, wealth will follow.” Cambodia’s progress against TB underscores the power of knowledge, collaboration, and care, proving no one must fight TB alone.

Recognizing the urgent need for reform, the UN Resident Coordinator, in collaboration with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), has convened a structured dialogue bringing together government agencies, financial institutions, investors, civil society organizations, and development partners. In November 2023, the NBC-UN Convening Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Process on Microfinance in Cambodia was launched—the first initiative of its kind. This neutral platform has engaged over 100 institutions in technical discussions, stakeholder dialogues, and high-level consultations to address the risks of unsustainable lending. The process has led to the adoption of 22 priority actions aimed at strengthening consumer protection, responsible lending, legal safeguards, and financial safety nets for rural borrowers. The UN's role in convening diverse actors has been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and collaboration.  UN Resident Coordinator Jo Scheuer emphasized: "The UN facilitates discussions, ensuring inclusive dialogue among stakeholders, but the progress of this initiative ultimately depends on the active participation and commitment of all involved."While encouraging steps have been taken, the path ahead remains complex. Within six months, four priority actions have been fully implemented, 15 are progressing, and three are in the early stages. Sustained coordination, follow-up, and high-quality technical advisory support will be essential to ensure that reforms lead to lasting impact. The initiative has the potential to mitigate risks of over-indebtedness and to position Cambodia's financial sector as a model for responsible microfinance governance in the region. By fostering inclusivity and collective action, the UN in Cambodia is supporting systemic change and financial services that empower individuals while safeguarding economic stability. This initiative sets a precedent for sustainable microfinance and reinforces the UN's commitment to equitable development and responsible financial inclusion.THE UN IN CAMBODIA IS DRIVING RESPONSIBLE MICROFINANCE REFORM THROUGH MULTI-STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE, ENSURING CONSUMER PROTECTION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

Soun Sreymom, a former Cambodian migrant worker, now uses her experience to advocate for safe migration and workers' rights. As a leading voice in the EU-funded PROTECT project in Cambodia, she facilitates community dialogues on gender, labour rights, and violence against women, and uses her powerful photographs to spark conversation and raise awareness about safe migration.Approximately 1.3 million Cambodians work abroad, contributing significantly to Southeast Asia's economy. Women constitute nearly half of the region's 10 million migrants, forming a vital economic force through remittances that support families and communities. However, the lack of essential information and support often undermines the potential benefits of migration.Now living in a rural community in Kampong Speu Province, Sreymom’s experience highlights the issues faced by many. "I faced challenges when switching from one job to another," she reflects. "First, I believed that changing jobs would lead to safer and less demanding work environments. However, the reality was the opposite, and the difficulties got worse with each job change. We had no choice but to accept these difficult and unsafe jobs."Sreymom spent 12 years travelling between Cambodia and Thailand for work, where she encountered the stark contrast between promised opportunities and harsh realities. "When I first migrated, I didn’t know the language," she recalls. "I worked as a rubber tapper. We didn’t know when we would get paid or anything. We didn’t dare to ask because we didn’t know the language. So, for the first five months, we didn’t get any pay from the boss." Without legal documentation and facing language barriers, she endured months of unpaid labour.Khun Sophea, Country Programme Coordinator at UN Women Cambodia, highlights the isolation many women migrant workers experience: "There's a strong sense of isolation as many don't speak the language of the destination country and lack a deep understanding of its culture. Additionally, they struggle with a lack of information about essential services and don’t have any support networks, making it difficult to find help if they face abuse or discrimination.”A VOICE FOR SAFE MIGRATION After returning to Cambodia in 2018, Sreymom joined a Peer Network. Initially part of the Safe and Fair Programme, this network transitioned to the PROTECT project, a partnership between the ILO, UN Women, UNODC, and UNICEF, funded by the European Union, focused on protecting the rights of women and children migrant workers in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The PROTECT project’s peer networks are vital support systems for women migrant workers across Southeast Asia, providing both online and in-person spaces in countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These networks, operating both online and in-person in countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, provide safe spaces for women to connect, share information, share experiences, learn about risks, and access essential support services. "Mostly, as women working in other countries, we need support to talk to our families, share our problems, or find help to leave a difficult situation," Sreymom reflects. Through these networks, women gain leadership skills, better understand their rights, and reduce feelings of isolation.Through this network, Sreymom discovered the My Journey mobile app, a vital resource offering information and emergency support. "At first, as a migrant, I didn't know much. I just went. But this app guides us, no matter where we are, and provides contact numbers we can use if we are in trouble." Sreymom actively shares the app with her community, offering a lifeline of support to friends and relatives working abroad. "I share it with my relatives who are already in Thailand and lack support and information. They love the app because now they have something to rely on." As part of the same programme, Sreymom was one of 28 women selected to participate in a participatory photography project. Using mobile phones, she documented and reflected on her migration journey, capturing both the struggles and hopes within her community. The project aimed not only to gather valuable information but also to equip participants with skills in self-expression, reflection, and critical thinking. “I gained knowledge about photography and learned how to use photographs to tell stories,” says Sreymom.Currently, Sreymom is preparing to lead community dialogues on gender, migration, and violence against women. She has co-designed “Photo-language” cards to facilitate these dialogues, using the very photos taken by herself and other migrant women to share experiences and raise awareness. "I am excited to continue contributing to community dialogues, sharing my migration experience, and leading discussions using the photo-language cards," she shares. NEW ROLE IN EDUCATIONSreymom understands that education is more than just learning—it’s a lifeline. Motivated by her belief that education can prevent unsafe migration, she began teaching kindergarten in her community. "People in my village are mostly poor, and children have difficulty continuing their studies due to family conditions. Some children migrate with their parents. Without education, they will end up working in low-paid jobs or migrating without proper documentation," Sreymom explains.Her commitment has been recognised. Local authorities have informed her that she will be promoted to a formal kindergarten teacher under the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports. Today, Sreymom is a trusted and respected member of her community. "Some people in my village ask me if they should migrate to Thailand for work," she says. "I tell them that migration is their choice. But if they really need to go, they should go through a regular channel, with all the required documents, to be safe and avoid the hardships I faced."Her strength and community contributions exemplify what the PROTECT project aims to foster among migrant women – recognising their innate strength and capacity to transform their communities. Sophea Khun reflects, "From my experience working with women migrant workers, I find them truly amazing. They exhibit strength and courage while navigating their lives. We need to continue to find ways to raise their voices, share their experiences, and showcase their strengths."Looking back on her transformation, Sreymom says, "I've had the opportunity to become more confident and gain a clearer understanding of myself. I feel like I have been given a voice." Through her tireless work, Sreymom empowers others, ensuring that future generations of migrants are better informed, protected, and supported. -----The project "Ensuring Decent Work and Reducing Vulnerabilities for Women and Children in the Context of Labour Migration in Southeast Asia (PROTECT)", running from 2024 to 2026, is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the ILO, UN Women, UNICEF, and UNODC to safeguard the rights of women and children in labor migration.