Evacuating Hundreds of Thousands of Civilians as Fighting Intensifies Between Cambodia and Thailand

SadaNews - Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia on their disputed border has intensified for the second day, with clashes expanding to new fronts amid mutual accusations of shelling civilian areas.

Bangkok has pledged to push forward with its military plans, while it remains unclear whether the fragile ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump last July can be maintained.

A senior adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that his country is "ready to engage in talks at any time," while Thailand's foreign minister affirmed that the current situation does not allow for negotiations or third-party intervention.

The resurgence of clashes since Sunday has led to the evacuation of more than 400,000 Thais from border areas to shelters, according to the Thai Ministry of Defense spokesperson Surasak Kongseeri, noting that civilians were compelled to evacuate due to an imminent threat to their safety.

In contrast, more than 100,000 Cambodians have been evacuated from border areas to shelters and relatives in five provinces, as reported by Cambodian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Mali Souchata.

The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has a long history, involving the demarcation of segments of the border spanning 800 kilometers, with roots tracing back to the French colonial era, and clashes have reignited less than two months after a previous ceasefire agreement.