UN rights envoy visits disputed border area to assess humanitarian situation
UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, Thomas Andrews, visits the Boeung Trakuon area in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, to observe security and humanitarian concerns, on July 27. Banteay Meanchey Provincial Administration
Synopsis: United Nation Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews travels to a disputed zone in Banteay Meanchey province to observe security conditions and humanitarian concerns.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia Thomas Andrews conducted an inspection of a disputed border area in Banteay Meanchey province on July 27, where Thai forces installed shipping containers and razor-wire barriers.
Accompanied by Banteay Meanchey Provincial Governor Oum Reatrey and local officials, Andrews visited the Boeung Trakuon area in Thmar Puok district to observe conditions and gather information on security and humanitarian concerns along the Cambodia-Thailand frontier.
Governor Oum Reatrey welcomed Andrews’ visit, saying the mission provided an opportunity for the UN expert to observe conditions along the border and the situation of displaced communities unable to return to their homes following conflict.
Banteay Meanchey is among seven Cambodian provinces sharing a border with Thailand and was affected by two rounds of armed clashes last year.
The governor said conflict in July and December last year forced more than 210,000 people, including more than 60,000 children, to evacuate from border areas to shelters.
He added that the clashes resulted in civilian casualties and damage to homes, pagodas and villages, while affecting schools and disrupting children’s education.
During the visit, Andrews inspected the Boeung Trakuon area, where Cambodian authorities said Thai military personnel placed shipping containers and razor wire barriers. Officials showed him what they described as evidence of the impact of the border dispute on Cambodian territory and nearby communities.
The UN Special Rapporteur’s mission aims to assess the humanitarian and human rights situation arising from border tensions, including the living conditions and needs of displaced civilians.
Information gathered during the visit will contribute to a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, according to officials.
Andrews is expected to conclude his visit to Cambodia later this week with a press conference presenting his observations and findings.
Before visiting the border area, Andrews met with Senate President Hun Sen at the Senate on July 22 and said he planned to visit people displaced by the border conflict
Andrews praised Cambodia as a country in the region that has ratified numerous international human rights treaties and said he had closely monitored the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, according to Senate spokesman Chea Thyrith.
Andrews said he would personally visit border areas to meet with affected people and gain a better understanding of the situation on the ground.
The Thai military launched two fierce assaults against Cambodia in July and December 2025, using airstrikes, artillery and drones against civilian areas along stretches of the more than 800-km shared border. The attacks displaced more than 640,000 people.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Interior, as of July 27, more than 640,000 people had fled their homes, with 20,281 people, including 10,331 women and 6,066 children, still unable to return home.
They have been unable to return due to remnants of war, unexploded ordnance and land encroachments reinforced by barbed wire and shipping containers.
The ministry said the conflict continued to affect public services in border areas, with 15 schools and seven hospitals or health centres in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces still closed.
It added that authorities were continuing to assess damage to public and private property, including homes, schools, health centres, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
-Khmer Times-
