(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Ministry of Interior issued a press release on the impacts on civilian areas and the protection of displaced civilians resulting from the war of territorial aggression by the Bangkok Government and the Thai military from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on 16 December 2025.
From 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on 16 December 2025, the violation of the ceasefire agreement and the unprovoked aggression of the Bangkok Government and the Thai military against Cambodia’s sovereign territory since 7 December has caused severe impacts on the safety of civilians, and civilian areas as follows:
1. Deaths and Injuries: There were two civilian deaths at a safety shelter in Koh Kong Province, and two civilians were injured in Banteay Meanchey Province and Oddar Meanchey Province. As of 6:00 p.m. on 16 December 2025, the total death toll of Cambodian civilians has reached 17, and the number of injured has reached 77.
2. Displacement of Civilians: Preah Vihear Province has 10,802 displaced families, equivalent to 34,694 people; Oddar Meanchey Province has 12,249 families, equivalent to 41,486 people; Banteay Meanchey Province has 53,055 families, equivalent to 178,302 people; Battambang Province has 12,322 families, equivalent to 44,246 people; Pursat Province has 900 families, equivalent to 3,221 people; Koh Kong Province has 1,962 families, equivalent to 7,020 people; Siem Reap Province has 38,646 families, equivalent to 123,364 people; and Kampot Province has 1,736 families, equivalent to 6,620 people. In total, the number of displaced persons has increased to 131,672 families, equivalent to 438,953 people, including 225,572 women and 134,602 children. These figures are subject to change.
3. Destruction of Civilian Infrastructure: Three more civilian houses sustained damage. Therefore, since 7 December until 6:00 p.m. on 16 December 2025, a total of 51 civilian houses, one school, one healthcare center, one ancient temple, four pagodas, one Buddhist almshouse, one monks’ residence, one customs and excise office building, four casino buildings, three hotels, three additional buildings, one community agricultural center, one storage building, one steel bridge, one bridgehead, one gas station, five vehicles (one motorcycle and four cars), one cassava storage warehouse, and one ancient bridge have been damaged or destroyed. In addition, essential public services, including administrative services, healthcare, and education across cities, districts, and communes, have been almost entirely suspended due to the Thai side’s intensified attacks against civilian areas, employing all types and forms of weapons through Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, and Royal Thai Air Force.
The Ministry of Interior of the Royal Government of Cambodia takes great pride in witnessing the powerful and increasingly dynamic momentum of national unity, as Cambodian citizens everywhere around the world have come together in a shared national spirit, standing shoulder to shoulder in support of and with firm confidence in the national defense strategy of Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet.
This great force of national solidarity has provided tremendous moral strength to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Border Protection Police of the Ministry of Interior, who are jointly standing guard to defend the territorial integrity and national sovereignty with discipline, bravery, and determination, standing firmly and successfully achieving every objective on the battlefield.
=FRESH NEWS
