By Peter
More than 500,000 people in Cambodia and Thailand sought refuge in pagodas, schools and emergency shelters on Wednesday after fresh border clashes erupted along the disputed frontier—violence that has already killed at least 15 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians.
The mass displacement comes amid escalating fighting involving jets, tanks and drones, prompting US president Donald Trump to pledge a direct diplomatic intervention to halt the hostilities.
Families Flee as Airstrikes and Shelling Intensify
“Authorities say it is not safe anymore,” said Seut Soeung, 30, resting by the roadside with her family as streams of vehicles, pets and belongings crowded the route away from combat zones.
A Cambodian policeman said temple grounds previously used as shelters were no longer safe after Thai jets flew near the area.
The fighting has spread across five provinces in both countries, as the long-running dispute over the 800km (500-mile) border and contested historic temples flares once again.
Deadliest Violence Since July Truce
This week’s clashes are the deadliest since five days of fighting in July, which killed dozens before a ceasefire was brokered by Trump. Both sides now accuse each other of reigniting the conflict.
Thailand’s defence ministry said more than 400,000 civilians have been moved to shelters inside Thailand alone.
Niam Poda, a 62-year-old sugarcane farmer in Sa Kaeo province, fled her home for the second time in five months.
“I just had to run for my life,” she said, describing an explosion that sent her scrambling without time to collect medicine.
Trump Says He Can End Fighting ‘Pretty Quickly’
Speaking in Washington, Trump told reporters he would call the leaders of both Thailand and Cambodia on Thursday.
“I think I can get them to stop fighting. Who else can do that?” he said.
The US, China and Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, negotiated the July ceasefire. Trump later backed a follow-on declaration tied to new trade agreements, but Thailand suspended the deal the following month.
Thailand has now imposed an overnight curfew from 7pm to 5am in parts of Sa Kaeo province.
Thousands Displaced in Cambodia
Cambodia has evacuated more than 101,000 people, according to defence ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata, who accused the Thai military of “indiscriminately” firing into civilian areas and shelling the contested Ta Krabey temple, which she described as a “sacred site of Cambodia.”
Cambodia’s interior ministry said 10 civilians, including an infant, have been killed.
Thailand’s army countered that Cambodian forces fired rockets early Wednesday that landed near Phanom Dong Rak hospital in Surin province—also struck in July’s fighting.
Citing safety concerns, Cambodia has withdrawn its athletes from the Southeast Asian Games hosted in Thailand.
Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said the fighting would eventually end through negotiations but rejected outside mediation for now.
“If any third country wants to mediate, Thailand can’t accept that at this stage because the line has been crossed,” he said. “Thai citizens have been killed and we need enough trust before talks can begin.”
