AKP Phnom Penh, February 27, 2026 --

In a move to highlight the ongoing humanitarian and territorial challenges along the Cambodian-Thai border, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Mrs. Eat Sophea, led a high-level delegation of the diplomatic corps and United Nations agencies on a site visit to Banteay Meanchey province on Feb. 23.

According to a press release issued this evening the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the visit targeted three specific locations – Chouk Chey village, Prey Chan village, and the Boeung Trakuon locality – areas that were occupied by Thai forces during an offensive last December.

The displaced residents from these areas are still unable to go back to their homes, as they are barred from returning with barbed wire and shipping containers blockade, while homes and civilian structures are being demolished since the ceasefire on Dec. 27, 2025.

From the visit site at Chouk Chey village and Prey Chan village, the delegation could catch a glimpse of the areas beyond the shipping-containers blockades, where a similar site visit was conducted in August last year. At the Boeung Trakuon locality, the delegation examined the homes, shops and public facilities in the small township, destroyed during the fighting. They observed from a short distance the shipping containers blocking road access to Boeung Trakuon regional border checkpoint, located approximately one kilometre away.

Since the ceasefire of Dec. 27, 2025, displaced residents from these communities have remained unable to return to their homes. Access to the affected areas continue to be restricted by blockades of barbed wire and shipping containers placed after the ceasefire, while homes and other civilian structures have either been destroyed during the fighting or demolished afterwards, further prolonging their displacement of local population.

The delegation also visited two camp sites at Chansi Pagoda and Kandoal Pagoda, where nearly 10,000 displaced people are being accommodated in makeshift shelters with sanitation facilities and temporary schooling for children. During this visit, the delegation presented some essential food items to help address the needs of the displaced people.

H.E. Mrs. Eat Sophea affirmed that the Royal Government of Cambodia remains firmly committed to resolving all border issues peacefully, in accordance with international law and relevant bilateral agreements, while strictly adhering to the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on Dec. 27, 2025.

The delegation expressed hope that peace and normalcy between Cambodia and Thailand will soon be fully restored, enabling all displaced persons to return home and resume their normal lives. In this regard, members of the delegation expressed appreciation for the role of the ASEAN Observation Team (AOT) in maintaining the ceasefire and supporting de-escalation efforts.

By C. Nika