Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense: Over 160,000 Cambodians from five provinces have been displaced by the war of aggression

 

(Phnom Penh): Lieutenant General Maly Sochata, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, stated that from July 24th to 6:00 PM on July 2nd, 2025, a total of 168,946 people from five provinces have been displaced due to the war of aggression by the Thai army.

During a press conference summarizing the "Results of the Implementation of the Ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand" as of 11:00 AM on July 30, 2025, the defense ministry spokesperson stated: "Regarding the displaced persons, from July 24th up to 6:00 PM yesterday, July 2nd, 2025, the total for Oddar Meanchey province is 38,447 people, Preah Vihear province is 29,717 people, Banteay Meanchey province is 34,264 people, Pursat province is 3,026 people, and Siem Reap province is 33,492 people. The total figure for all five provinces is 168,946 displaced persons."

The displaced, including pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, were evacuated from high ground to safe shelters and relatives' homes. The Thai invasion has caused more than 600 schools across the five provinces to close, affecting over 150,000 students and 6,000 teachers. Furthermore, villages, health centers, buildings large and small, gas stations, schools, markets, and the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site, have suffered destruction and indiscriminate attacks by the Thai side, which especially threatened the lives of innocent civilians, such as women and children.

The use of military force and heavy weaponry in the invasion of Cambodia by the Thai army has caused severe and heartbreaking devastation for Cambodian civilians. Tens of thousands of families have abandoned their peaceful homes after the invading Thai army shelled their villages.

The evacuation from their homes has brought great hardship for the displaced. They face a lack of shelter, food, and clean water, loss of occupations, loss of income leading to difficulties in their livelihood, children missing their education, and many other challenges.