The renewed Thai-Cambodia border clashes have displaced nearly a million people on both sides, with fighting escalating in recent weeks amid a long-standing territorial dispute over colonial-era demarcations and ancient temples. The renewed clashes killed 22 people in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia, according to officials.
The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) border. According to the Cambodian interior ministry, "More than 518,611 people have been evacuated from the border. At present, more than half a million Cambodian people, including women and children, are suffering severe hardship due to forced displacement from their homes and schools to escape artillery shells, rockets, and aerial bombardments carried out by Thailand's F-16 aircraft.”
The ongoing border clashes have also displaced around 400,000 people in Thailand due to the reignited border conflict, Bangkok has said.
Both sides have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire after five days of clashes in July that killed dozens.
Also Read: Cambodia accuses Thailand of violating ceasefire
The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a truce to end that round of fighting, but the ceasefire was short-lived. Thailand suspended the agreement a month after two Thai soldiers had lost their lives during a border patrol. Bangkok has accused Cambodia of laying fresh mines, an allegation denied by Phnom Penh.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington was closely monitoring the Cambodia-Thailand border escalations and hinted that a ceasefire to end hostilities could be reached by Monday or Tuesday.
Foreign ministers of ASEAN nations, including Cambodia and Thailand, are set to meet on Monday in Kuala Lumpur for talks aimed at finding a diplomatic solution.
Also Read: Thailand rejects truce as border clashes enter second week
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