More than 500,000 people have been displaced in Cambodia following two weeks of renewed and deadly border clashes with neighbouring Thailand, underscoring a deepening humanitarian crisis even as ASEAN steps up diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
What did Cambodia accuse Thailand of?
Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday (December 21, 2025) that 5,18,611 people, including women and children, have been forced to flee their homes and schools to escape artillery fire, rocket attacks, and aerial bombardments.
In a statement, the ministry accused Thailand of using heavy weaponry, including F-16 fighter aircraft, during the fighting along the disputed frontier.
What did Thailand counter-accuse Cambodia of?
Thailand, for its part, has reported that around 4,00,000 people have also been displaced on its side of the border, highlighting the scale of civilian suffering on both sides.
According to official figures, at least 22 people have been killed in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia since the fighting reignited earlier this month, with tanks, drones and artillery deployed by both militaries.
What is the background to the cross-border violence?
The latest violence stems from a long-running territorial dispute linked to the colonial-era demarcation of the two countries’ 800-kilometre border, particularly around ancient temple ruins that straddle the frontier.
Each side has blamed the other for provoking the clashes and for targeting civilian areas. A previous spike in fighting in July had already left dozens dead.
How is ASEAN involved in peace efforts?
Amid mounting international concern, China, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and ASEAN have all called for an immediate ceasefire.
ASEAN foreign ministers, including those from Cambodia and Thailand, are scheduled to meet in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (December 22, 2025) to discuss the crisis.
What did Malaysia say about the peace efforts?
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs ASEAN, said he spoke by phone with both Thai and Cambodian leaders, urging dialogue and restraint. Thailand has indicated it will engage with ASEAN-led peacebuilding efforts, even as tensions remain high.
The two neighbours signed a peace agreement in Kuala Lumpur in October, but it was later suspended after Thai soldiers were seriously injured in a landmine blast, once again exposing the fragility of past accords in a dispute that has repeatedly flared into violence.