by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH (Worthy News) – Thailand and Cambodia rushed reinforcements to their shared frontier Wednesday as artillery exchanges and air strikes shattered a fragile ceasefire, forcing thousands of residents on both sides of the border to flee. The crisis raised fears of a widening conflict in one of Southeast Asia’s most volatile regions and impacted churches.
The new violence followed Monday’s clashes that left at least five people dead and dozens more injured. It marked the worst escalation since the sides accepted a Malaysian-brokered ceasefire in July and later signed a U.S.-witnessed peace declaration in October.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted Thailand “never wanted violence” but “will use necessary means to preserve its sovereignty.” Cambodia’s influential former leader Hun Sen accused Thai “invaders” of provoking the attacks, saying Phnom Penh “will not tolerate violations of Cambodian territory.”
Officials confirmed rising civilian casualties, and local authorities reported heavier shelling overnight. Witnesses say entire villages emptied within minutes as explosions echoed across the frontier.
HEAVY FIRE AND MASS EVACUATIONS INTENSIFY
Thai commanders said their forces responded to Cambodian fire in Ubon Ratchathani Province with limited air strikes. Cambodia rejected that account and said Thai jets and artillery launched the initial assault inside Preah Vihear Province.
Authorities confirmed one Thai soldier and several Cambodian civilians among the dead. Dozens more were wounded as families fled with little more than clothes and documents. Witnesses say roads were jammed with motorbikes, carts, and trucks carrying families seeking safety.
Tens of thousands have already abandoned border villages, and evacuation centers in both countries have reached capacity. The renewed violence raised alarms across ASEAN capitals, with concerns that the fighting could spiral beyond localized clashes.
More than 100,000 Cambodians fled deeper inland this week alone, according to preliminary government estimates.
EDUCATION SHUTDOWN SPARKS ALARM
More than 650 schools across five Thai provinces were ordered closed for safety. Videos circulating on Cambodian social media showed parents rushing to withdraw children from classrooms while artillery fire sounded nearby. Teachers warn that repeated evacuations are causing long-term educational and psychological harm.
Thai border teacher Siksaka Pongsuwan said students are “losing opportunities and precious time” compared with children in safer areas. Witnesses say some students crossed checkpoints on foot to escape gunfire, with families sheltering under bridges and in storage buildings.
In Cambodia, images circulated of children eating hurried meals inside makeshift bunkers.
Relief groups caution that the growing education crisis may soon affect tens of thousands of students across both countries.
CHURCHES CLOSE NEAR FRONT LINE
Christian communities near the frontier have also been swept up in the conflict, Worthy News learned.
Several churches in Thailand’s Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, and Buriram provinces have temporarily suspended worship after hearing shelling from nearby hills. Some church buildings were reportedly converted into emergency shelters as families sought refuge.
Across the border, small house-church groups in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces halted gatherings as believers evacuated. Pastors reported that many Christian families lost access to schools, medicine, and stable income after fleeing.
Catholic and Protestant leaders appealed for calm and urged congregations to support displaced families.
Although Christians were not being specifically targeted, the conflict disrupted worship, community life, and humanitarian outreach in some of the region’s poorest rural districts.
Witnesses say church volunteers were among the first to distribute water and rice to families arriving at makeshift shelters.
CENTURY-OLD BORDER DISPUTE
Thailand and Cambodia have contested sovereignty along their 800-kilometer (497-mile) land border for more than a century.
The dispute centers on territorial claims dating back to the French colonial era and includes long-simmering tensions over the area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple complex, experts say.
Hostilities intensified in July when Cambodian rocket fire struck inside Thailand, prompting Thai air strikes. A ceasefire announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim briefly paused the fighting, followed by a peace signing attended by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Thailand later suspended implementation of the deal after two soldiers were injured by a landmine near the frontier. The renewed violence this week has now displaced more than 100,000 people and shattered hopes for lasting peace. Witnesses say older villagers recall similar evacuations during past flare-ups, but warn this time the firepower appears heavier and the fear more widespread.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the region may face a far larger displacement crisis if the violence continues. Churches, temples, and schools have been turned into makeshift shelters, and aid workers report difficulty reaching remote areas cut off by shelling.
Witnesses say aid workers struggled to reach several farming communities after explosions damaged roads.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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