Leng’s story: A childhood interrupted by conflict
In the early morning, as was his daily routine, Leng prepared to leave for school. But the sudden, heavy "boom-boom" of shelling along the border forced him to stop. This time felt different from previous scares (the Cambodia–Thailand border escalation in July 2025). Fortunately, Leng was not alone; he was home with his mother and his younger siblings.
His greatest fear was how his family would escape. Their only means of transport was a single motorbike—their most precious possession—which could not carry everyone. Ultimately, his entire family, including his grandmother, had to plead for space in a neighbor’s vehicle to reach a safer area.
Education in the Shadow of War
Leng is 13 years old and currently in the 8th grade. His story is tragically similar to that of over 158,000 other Cambodian children whose education was disrupted by this second escalation of violence. According to the Ministry, over 1,600 schools were forced to close.
The Memory of Escape
When asked what worried him most, Leng spoke of his family’s safety and how much he misses the home where he was born. He wept as he recalled the day they fled. He can still hear the deafening crashes that terrified his 10-month-old sister and 6-year-old brother. They screamed in fear while their mother frantically packed whatever belongings she could carry.
The psychological toll has been heavy. According to a Psychological Needs Assessment conducted after the first escalation in July, both children and adults in the region have reported significant distress.
A Community Displaced
The re-escalation in December forced nearly half a million people across 7 provinces to abandon their villages, their pets, and the crops they had spent months cultivating. These families rely on the land for survival—gathering crabs, meat, and tending cattle. Now, they are separated from their only source of livelihood.
Today, Leng met with World Vision staff who are distributing nutritious dried food and school kits to displaced children in Preah Vihear.
“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, the National 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.”
World Vision International in Cambodia is delivering a multi-sector humanitarian emergency response to address the urgent needs of people displaced by the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict. As of 18 December 2025, the intervention has reached 57,423 displaced people, including more than 17,700 children, from Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siem Reap, Battambang and Oddar Meanchey.
The response prioritises child-centred, life-saving assistance, focusing on Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, Shelter and Non-Food Items, and WASH. Key interventions include the establishment of child-friendly spaces and temporary learning spaces; the provision of food assistance and essential household items; the distribution of nutrition supplies for pregnant and lactating women and young children; the installation of water and sanitation facilities; and the delivery of hygiene and protection services for vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.
World Vision continues to work in close coordination with local authorities, church partners, humanitarian partners and the private sector to ensure timely, effective and well-coordinated assistance that protects children and supports displaced families during this emergency.
By: Korng Sikim and Ratana Lay, World Vision Cambodia’s staff