Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Cambodian Ministry of the Interior issued an updated situation report on the evening of December 22, strongly condemning the Thai military's continued military provocations against Cambodian civilian areas. The report stated that Thai shelling and airstrikes have caused serious casualties and property damage, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the border region.
As of 6 PM on December 22, Thai forces continued shelling Cambodian civilian areas. According to official statistics, the conflict has resulted in 21 Cambodian civilian deaths and 83 injuries. The latest report on the 22nd stated that Thai aggression resulted in the death of one refugee in Oddar Meanchey province and injuries to three others in Banteay Meanchey province.
Threatened by Thai F-16 fighter jet airstrikes and ground artillery fire, large numbers of border residents have been forced to flee their homes. Currently, the number of people sheltered in temporary camps in safe areas has surged to 544,703, including 285,544 women and 174,006 children.
The Ministry of the Interior expressed deep concern, noting that the large-scale displacement has brought the normal lives of local residents and the studies of students to a complete standstill. As the situation remains unstable, the number of refugees is expected to continue to fluctuate.
Since the outbreak of conflict earlier this month, Thai military operations have caused devastating damage to Cambodian infrastructure. Preliminary statistics show that five schools and three medical centers were damaged, severely impacting basic livelihoods; numerous ancient temples, five pagodas, and historically valuable bridges suffered varying degrees of damage; damaged buildings include 11 government office buildings, five hotels, one gas station, one market, and two telecommunications towers; over 124 houses were destroyed, along with property losses including a car warehouse, potato warehouse, agricultural community center, and 28 vehicles of various types; three bridges, including a stone bridge and a railway bridge, and one bridgehead were destroyed.
The Ministry of the Interior emphasized in its report that the Thai attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure not only destroyed farmland and homes but also seriously violated international law. Cambodia called on the international community to pay attention to Thailand's acts of aggression and to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to the affected people.
