Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF) - Situation Report 11: Cambodia-Thailand Border Situation (12 December 2025)

This report is produced by Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF) in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 07– 12th Dec 2025.

Situation and Impact

On 7 December, long-standing tensions between Cambodia and Thailand along their disputed border erupted into a major renewed conflict, breaking a fragile ceasefire that had been negotiated earlier in the year. Hostilities included artillery exchanges, air strikes, and heavy fighting in multiple frontier areas, with both sides blaming the other for initiating violence. The humanitarian impact of the current crisis has already exceeded the displacement figures experienced in the previous flare-up in July, which had resulted in the displacement of over 172,000 people in Cambodia. Almost all of them were able to return home following the signing of the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) agreement between Cambodia and Thailand on 7 August.

According to the National Committee of Disaster Management (NCDM), as of 12 December, there are 331,158 displaced Cambodians. Of those displaced, some 246,210 people have moved into 234 displacement sites the Government has established. The remaining 84,948 people have moved into their relatives’ homes. Banteay Meanchey province has reported the maximum displacements (147,472 people) followed by Siem Reap1 (87,350people), Oddar Meanchey (40,545people), Preah Vihear (26,762), Battam Bang (25,808 people) and Pursat (3,221 people). To date, the border conflict has claimed 11 civilian lives and 59 people are injured. The government has closed 883 schools as a precautionary measure affecting 208,985 students and 7,278 teachers. With the skirmishes unabated, the number of displaced people is likely to rise.

The conflict has had significant humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic repercussions for Cambodia. Massive civilian displacement has strained local resources and disrupted normal life in border provinces, with thousands fleeing homes to escape fighting. Economically, border closures and disruptions to trade and tourism have hurt Cambodia’s recovery remittances from Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand have dropped sharply due to the exodus of workers, border trade has stalled, and tourism revenues have fallen as security fears deter visitors. The downturn in cross-border commerce and movement has also contributed to inflationary pressures and slowed growth in key sectors.