As armed conflict escalates, communities in Cambodia face urgent threats to safety and childhood. Protecting children, supporting families, and fostering hope has never been more vital. Action Education / Aide et Action is on the ground, delivering aid where it is needed most.
Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since 7 December 2025, leading to a breakdown in ceasefire efforts and a sharp escalation of fighting. Renewed clashes have forced civilians to flee—families carrying what they can, and children leaving behind their homes, schools, and sense of security.
More than 101,000 Cambodians have been evacuated to shelters and relatives’ homes, according to the Defence Ministry spokesperson. (The Guardian)
For many, the journey ended in temporary shelters: a high school, a pagoda, or any safe place that offered protection from the fighting. Yet displacement brings new dangers. Cold nights, hunger, health, fear, abuse and the sudden loss of routine weigh heavily on children who have already endured too much.
On Saturday, 13 December 2025, cross-border shelling reached the coastal province of Koh Kong, spreading the conflict from inland border areas to coastal communities. (Reuters) According to the National Disaster Management Committee, 570 families—approximately 2,277 people—have been displaced in Koh Kong. (Cambodianess)
From Crisis to Action: Life-Saving Support for Families on the Move
As needs escalated rapidly, Action Education / Aide et Action Cambodia mobilised its teams to reach displaced families sheltering at Botumsakor High School and Wat Chanmuniram (Andoung Toeuk).
Our priority is clear: protect children, support families, and restore a sense of dignity amid crisis. On the ground, we delivered assistance to meet immediate needs in Koh Kong on 13 December 2025:
- 10,000 sets of school uniforms – clean clothing helping children return to learning, even in displacement
- 30 tents – providing shelter and protection from the elements
- 13 cartons of baby milk (624 packets) – vital nutrition for infants
- 5 cartons of snacks (200 packets) – immediate food support for children
- 8 cartons of rice noodles (384 packets) – essential sustenance for families
- 500 reading books – offering comfort, learning, and a sense of normality
These supplies have been distributed to displaced children and families in areas where needs remain critical.
Amid Chaos, Education Must Survive
In emergencies, education is often the first casualty—but for children, it is also a lifeline. A school uniform, a book, or a safe space to learn can restore routine, hope, and protection at a time when everything feels uncertain.
We reaffirm our commitment to protecting children’s rights, even amid conflict and displacement. Our teams are preparing to expand emergency support to additional refugee camps along the Thai–Cambodia border, prioritising the most vulnerable families and ensuring assistance reaches communities with dignity and respect.
The situation remains volatile.
Needs continue to grow.
Humanitarian action must continue.
Latest news about our emergency response: > Action Education Southeast Asia website
