"Escaping the conflict: Elderly Thai woman returns to damaged dwelling following border clash"
In the summer of 2025, a renewed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalated from a long-standing territorial dispute along their shared border. The heaviest fighting between the two countries in over a decade ensued, causing significant disruption, displacement, and insecurity among civilians in border areas.
The conflict, which peaked in late July, began with mutual accusations of armed incursions, shelling, and aerial strikes. Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets during the border clashes, while Cambodia used BM-21 missile launchers. As a result, over 300,000 people on both sides have been displaced, and at least 40 people have been killed, many of them civilians.
One of the victims of the conflict is Koon Kantho, a 68-year-old resident of Kantharalak district, Sisaket province in Thailand. Koon and her family evacuated their home after hearing about shelling from Cambodia. Unfortunately, Koon's home was destroyed by shelling from Cambodia after they had evacuated. Koon returned to her home after the ceasefire announcement but found that nothing was left. She expressed feelings of luck at being alive but expressed uncertainty about her future living situation.
The border communities in Thailand and Cambodia have been significantly affected by the five-day conflict between the neighbors. Tens of thousands of residents near the conflict zones have been displaced due to fighting, shelling, and border closures. Civilians living near temples and towns in Ubon Ratchathani province and Cambodian border provinces have faced artillery and rocket attacks threatening their safety. Access to key cultural heritage sites like Ta Muen Thom Temple has been forcibly restricted amid military control, disrupting local tourism and community life.
Landmine incidents injured several Thai soldiers on border patrol shortly before the July outbreak, highlighting the hazardous environment for both military personnel and civilians alike. Diplomatic tensions including ambassador recalls and closure of border crossings exacerbate difficulties for local cross-border trade and mobility, directly affecting livelihoods in border communities.
The Thai government is preparing an initial budget of 25 billion baht to mitigate the conflict's economic impact. The initial estimated cost of evacuation and damaged property in Thailand is over 10 billion baht ($307.88 million). Koon, like many others affected by the conflict, hopes that the government will step in to help.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, July 30). Thailand-Cambodia border conflict: What's happening? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53556816
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 28). Cambodia says Thailand's border incursions kill one, injure two. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cambodia-says-thailands-border-incursions-kill-one-injure-two-2025-07-28/
[3] Al Jazeera. (2025, July 29). Thailand-Cambodia border conflict: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/29/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-what-you-need-to-know
- The escalation of the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict in the summer of 2025, marked by war-and-conflicts, has resulted in a 25 billion baht budget allocation by the Thai government for economic impact mitigation.
- The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has also led to significant political implications, with diplomatic tensions impacting cross-border trade and mobility, underlined by the general-news coverage of the clash and its aftermath.
