World Vision Cambodia urges urgent humanitarian support as hundreds of thousands displaced by Cambodia–Thailand border clashes

Press Release

World Vision Cambodia urges urgent humanitarian support as hundreds of thousands displaced by Cambodia–Thailand border clashes

Phnom Penh, 16 December 2025 — World Vision Cambodia is calling for immediate and scaled-up humanitarian assistance as renewed border dispute along the Cambodia–Thailand border continue to displace large numbers of civilians, cause casualties, and place children and families at serious need.

The scale and speed of displacement is unprecedented for Cambodia

The renewed escalation in December 2025 has intensified, triggering widespread displacement across several north-western and western provinces, including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Battambang, Koh Kong and Siem Reap. According to official report released by National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) on 15 December, more than 126,000 families — over 421,000 people — have been evacuated, including over 216,000 women and more than 127,000 children. There have been 14 civilian casualties, including an infant and an elderly person, with many others injured.

Children are facing a hidden emergency

Children are among the most severely affected. While food and shelter dominate immediate needs, the less visible impacts on children – trauma, disrupted learning and loss of stability – are growing rapidly. According to official report released by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport on 15 December, 1,039 schools have been closed, disrupting the learning of more than 242,881students. Combined with the loss of safe shelter and daily routines, and the urgent need for psychosocial support, hundredsthousands of children are now in urgent need of protection, continuity of learning and mental-health care. 

Current support is significant, but the scale is exceeding capacity

The Royal Government of Cambodia, local authorities and various generous groups have been providing essential support to displaced families, including temporary, food, shelterwater, hygiene kits and basic health services. Yet the scale of the crisis far exceeds current capacity, leaving critical gaps in shelter, food security, water, sanitation, and health care.

World Vision’s response

In response to the rapidly increasing displacement, World Vision International in Cambodia has activated anemergency response and is delivering life-saving and child-focused assistance in affected provinces, including Preah Vihear, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Battambang and Oddar Meanchey.

Key interventions to date include:

• Establishing and operating Child-Friendly Spaces, along with psychosocial support activities for children and caregivers. To date, World Vision has set up Child-Friendly Spaces, reaching thousands of children.
• Distributing essential non-food items, including blankets, mosquito nets and mats, and installing latrines and other WASH facilities in crowded displacement sites.
• Supporting local coordination and accountability mechanisms, including feedback channels in major camps and the use of digital tools to promote fair and transparent aid distribution.
• Conducting rapid assessments and protection monitoring to identify the most vulnerable households — including children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and people with disabilities — and tailor assistance accordingly.

Between 11 and 14 December, World Vision teams supported more than 44,600 people across 30 displacement sites through 30 child friendly spaces, emergency WASH, child protection, and non-food assistance, with response efforts continuing to expand as needs grow. In addition, 37 latrines and 19 water tanks were installed at displacement sites, and 1,560 non-food item (NFI) kitswere distributed to affected families in Preah Vihear, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Battambang. More than 1,200 affected people also received psycho-awareness training. 

Call to action

As needs continue arise, World Vision aims to scale up the operations to reach over 220,000 people. To ensure families and children receive life-saving support, World Vision Cambodia urgently appeals to donors, private sector partners, and the public to:

1. Provide immediate funding and in-kind support to enable humanitarian agencies to scale up life-saving assistance, including food, safe water, sanitation, emergency shelter, health and protection services. Flexible funding is critical to respond to rapidly changing needs.
2. Prioritise child protection, psychosocial support and education in emergencies, ensuring children’s immediate safety and long-term wellbeing are not overlooked.
3. Support humanitarian coordination and access, so assistance can reach the most affected communities quickly, safely and equitably.

“Families forced to flee their homes are facing urgent and complex needs. Beyond food and clean water, children need safe and protective spaces, psychosocial care and a sense of stability in the midst of fear and uncertainty,” said Janes Imanuel Ginting, theNational Director of World Vision International in Cambodia. “World Vision is actively scaling up child protection, emergency WASH and life-saving assistance, but needs continue to grow. Timely and flexible support from partners and donors is critical to protect children and save lives.”

Media Contact: 
Pisey Sar, Senior Public Engagement Specialist  
Tel: (855) 85 605 069, Email: pisey_sar@wvi.org