Nearly 5,000 Thai people displaced by shelling near the Thai-Cambodian border remain stuck in a refugee camp established at a university in Thailand's Surin Province. Despite a ceasefire, many families are too fearful to return home.
The armed conflicts between Cambodian and Thai soldiers erupted on July 24 over a territory dispute, resulting in over 30 fatalities and forcing over 100,000 people to be evacuated. A ceasefire was agreed upon four days later, but the repercussions of the conflict linger on.
Many fled with little more than the clothes on their backs and are living on straw mats, relying on donated food and supplies.
Despite the heat and basic living conditions, many prefer to remain in the camp rather than risk returning home. They doubt the reliability of any agreement to end the fighting and are still concerned about their safety.
"There aren’t many problems with living conditions or food here except for the bathrooms. The water pressure is quite low because many people are using them and we often have to wait in line for a long time. Right now, I don’t want to go back home yet because I want to wait and see how the situation unfolds. I’m afraid it might not be safe, especially since there is a lot of artillery shells that landed near our home earlier," said Sook Tongyon, a displaced person.
"I’m very worried about my child because she has a fever. I’m also afraid of going back as I’m concerned that if the fighting starts again it would be difficult and dangerous for my family. So we’ll stay here for now, and only go back when they say it’s safe," said Pete, another displaced person.
Classes at the university have been suspended to provide humanitarian aid, which poses challenges for students as exams are approaching. Local authorities, individual donors, and charities are supplying food, water, and bedding to those in need.
A Thai hospital was damaged after being hit by Cambodian artillery, but thankfully, patients had already been evacuated to safety.
Similar camps have been set up to take care of the displaced Cambodian families on the other side of the border.
While everyone hopes to return home soon, those in the camp emphasize that safety remains their top priority during this uncertain time.
Thousands of displaced Thai people remain stuck in camp despite ceasefire
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
