Phnom penh: Cambodia's First Lady Lok Chumteav Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet has urged municipal authorities to increase support for thousands of civilians who fled to the capital to escape renewed fighting on the Cambodian-Thai border. Speaking to displaced families at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre in Phnom Penh, Lok Chumteav Dr. Pich Chanmony called for improved shelter and security for residents who left border provinces following what she describes as incursions by Thai forces.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the hostilities mark a significant escalation in long-standing territorial disputes, as described by the First Lady, who considers the situation a violation of Cambodian sovereignty. "The duration of the fighting remains uncertain," she said, urging national unity and public confidence in the leadership of the Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.
As of Dec. 24, nearly 6,000 people-including 1,000 children-had sought refuge across Phnom Penh's 14 Khans, according to municipal data. Displaced residents cited the capital's distance from the conflict zone as the primary reason for their relocation.