Displaced Cambodian residents from the latest round of border conflict with Thailand, which erupted on Dec 7, are facing hardships at refugee camps in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia.
Compared with the previous border conflict, the scale and number of refugee camps in Cambodia are increasing this time, with locations set further away from the border to ensure safety.
About 100 kilometers from the Cambodian-Thai border stand eight refugee camps in Preah Vihear Province, now sheltering over 40,000 refugees - nearly equivalent to the population of a county. Although the camps distribute rice and other food daily, water is only available from temporary wells, which deplete quickly. If the conflict continues, camps may face severe supply shortages.
"I didn’t bring much because the fighting was intense near my hometown. There is a lot that we lack, but there are many refugees, so we can’t blame them," said Khun Mouy, a Cambodian refugee.
"We don’t have many supplies, and we also don’t have money to buy food. Water is also in short supply,” said Heng Sokzhen, another refugee.
Some refugees witnessed civilian casualties during the conflict, and their overwhelming fear prompted them to flee their homes hastily, leaving with almost no personal belongings. Their only hope is to stay safe while fearing further escalation of the conflict.
"On December 8, one person was killed in my hometown, and her husband was also injured," said Ming Mouv, an elderly woman.
"I didn’t have time to take anything. I just grabbed a bit here and there. I was really scared," recalled Phaen Polly, another elderly woman.
On the road leading to the refugee camps, many refugees were seen leaving the border area by tractor. Due to overcrowding in the camps, they can only move further away or seek refuge with their relatives.
"On December 7, I started hearing the roar of guns. Yesterday, it was too loud; we couldn't stay, so we escaped. My wife’s hometown is over there. After dropping them off, I have to go back to guard the house,” said a man.
According to Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, more than 57,000 families with 190,000 civilians have fled their homes for safe shelters due to the border clash.
Thai-Cambodian conflict victims face hardships at refugee camps
Thai-Cambodian conflict victims face hardships at refugee camps
Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of London on Saturday, marching from Westminster to the U.S. embassy to deliver a clear message to the United States and Israel -- stop the war in Iran.
Chanting slogans and carrying banners reading "Stop bombing Iran" and "No war on Iran", demonstrators condemned what they described as unlawful military aggression that they say threatens regional stability and civilian lives.
"What Trump is doing from his base in America -- trying to rule the world. And I think it's disgusting and it's dangerous. It's killing. It's going to kill tens of thousands of people across the Middle East, and it'll have huge ramifications across the world," said a protester in an interview with China Global Television Network.
"I think that Trump and Netanyahu's obvious attempts to push regime change are unacceptable. And it's ultimately the Iranian people and people across the Middle East, normal people, who are going to suffer the most in this war," said another.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, which resulted in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, several of his family members and multiple senior Iranian military commanders.
Iran said on Friday evening that since the fighting began, at least 1,332 civilians have been killed, with thousands of others injured.
"A completely immoral, groundless act of aggression, another war crime against Iran," said a third protester.
"They are going in, they're bombing people indiscriminately. Over 160 school children have been killed for no good reason," another protester said, referring to the U.S.-Israeli airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.
Initially, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the United States couldn't use any British bases for military actions in the Middle East. But he later rolled back on his words, saying that the U.S. can use certain bases as long as it is for defensive actions only.
The protesters don't think he has gone far enough. They said that this is an illegal action and should be stopped immediately.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a live broadcast statement on Saturday that Israel's attack on Iran will continue with "full force and uncompromising momentum."
Israel has a well-prepared plan with many surprises to undermine "Iranian regime" and "enable change," Netanyahu said.
Thousands march in London to demand halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran
Thousands march in London to demand halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran
