Cambodia's Ministry of Interior stated today that approximately 518,000 people are suffering hardship from leaving their homes and schools to escape bombing and shelling by Thailand.

On the same day, Royal Thai Ministry of Defense spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri announced that over 200,000 people are in shelters. "Some villagers may be able to return home," he said, but warned of the possibility of unexploded ordnance.

According to officials from both countries, the fighting has killed at least 22 people in Thailand and 19 in Cambodia.

Thai officials stated on 10/12 that approximately 400,000 people in seven provinces had been displaced to shelters due to the conflict. At that time, Cambodia reported over 100,000 people in five provinces had to evacuate.

Residents at a shelter in Buriram province, Thailand, on 16/12. *Photo: Reuters*

Officials from Cambodia and Thailand stated that the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on 22/12 is expected to help de-escalate tensions, with Bangkok calling the event "a significant opportunity for both sides."

Royal Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maratee Nalita Andamo reiterated previously stated conditions for accepting negotiations: Cambodia declaring a ceasefire first and agreeing to cooperate in mine clearance efforts at the border. "These conditions will guide how we interact in tomorrow's discussions in Kuala Lumpur," she said.

Thailand also does not guarantee that the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting will lead to a ceasefire agreement, asserting that achieving a ceasefire "primarily depends on the military's assessment of the situation on the ground."

Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the meeting's purpose is to restore "peace, stability, and good neighborly relations," adding that Phnom Penh will reaffirm its firm stance on resolving disagreements and disputes through all peaceful means, dialogue, and diplomacy.

The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand re-erupted on 7/12 and remains tense. Mediation efforts by the US and several countries have not made progress, as Thailand and Cambodia blame each other for escalating the conflict and demand the other side cease fire first.

Pham Giang (*According to AFP, Nation Thailand, Khmer Times*)