The families are from Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages in Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, and are sheltering at temporary safety centers. Officials said Thai soldiers blocked access roads despite a ceasefire agreement signed Dec. 27.

Authorities said large sections of both villages were nearly destroyed by earlier airstrikes and artillery shelling, leaving homes, public buildings and basic infrastructure in ruins.

Cambodia’s Interior Ministry also accused Thai forces of maintaining an illegal troop presence inside Cambodian territory and looting civilian property in Pursat province. Officials alleged Thai soldiers broke into at least eight houses, stealing valuables, four motorcycles and two garbage trucks.

Despite restrictions, officials reported calm along the border between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 4, during which more than 25,000 displaced people returned home. Still, 242,267 people — including nearly 128,000 women and 79,000 children — remain in camps out of more than 640,000 who fled since early December.

Authorities said 323 houses, along with fuel stations, markets, bridges, roads, pagodas, ancient temples and electricity facilities, have been damaged or destroyed.

Cambodian officials continue to demand the full withdrawal of Thai troops, urging compliance with ceasefire agreements and international law to allow civilians to return safely.

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In a press release covering the period from 1 to 6 p.m. Jan. 1, authorities reported that 100,177 displaced people resumed residence in their villages, reducing the remaining number of displaced civilians to 409,186, including 214,525 women and 131,413 children. More than 230,000 displaced civilians have returned home since the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand.

The ministry said the calm resulted from the ceasefire agreed under the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee, signed at the Prum International Border Crossing in Pailin province on Dec. 27, 2025. Officials highlighted the dignified return of all 18 Cambodian soldiers, calling it a concrete outcome of Cambodia’s “quiet but not silent” strategy, which they said safeguarded national dignity while achieving humanitarian results.

Public services have gradually resumed in border provinces affected by the fighting, though hundreds of schools and health centers remain closed. In Banteay Meanchey province, 321 schools and seven health facilities remain closed, while nine schools and 15 health centers have reopened.

In Preah Vihear province, 61 schools and 14 health centers remain closed, while district and commune administrations have begun resuming operations. In Oddar Meanchey province, 48 schools, eight health centers, four district administrations, and dozens of commune offices and police stations have resumed operations, though more than 200 schools and several administrative units remain closed. In Koh Kong province, 62 of 66 temporarily closed schools have reopened.

Authorities confirmed no new damage to civilian infrastructure during the reporting period. Since Dec. 7, however, assessments have recorded the destruction of 277 civilian houses and public facilities including 12 schools, two health centers, 17 government office buildings, five pagodas, four ancient temples, five bridges, a market, and several road sections.

The ministry said more than 168,000 civilians across Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces have returned home, with resettlement preparations completed in 172 villages. Eighty-four villages in Oddar Meanchey remain inaccessible due to safety concerns, including unexploded ordnance.

The government said it continues to prioritize clearance of unexploded munitions, repairs to damaged homes and villages, and restoration of essential services. A nationwide ban on unmanned aerial vehicles remains in effect until further notice.

The ministry reiterated Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet’s position that the ceasefire does not constitute surrender or territorial concession, stressing that Cambodia’s international borders remain governed by existing treaties and conventions and that Cambodia retains full rights to pursue border issues under international law.

Officials also urged citizens to maintain national unity, trust in the government’s leadership, and reject disinformation and extremist incitement that could undermine peace and stability.

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In a video address posted on his Facebook page, Anwar congratulated both countries for consolidating their truce through direct talks in China, calling the shift from hostilities to structured negotiations a critical step toward durable peace.

“Malaysia welcomed the agreement by Cambodia and Thailand to consolidate their ceasefire through direct talks held in China,” Anwar said, adding that the process reflected “a determination to prevent relapse and to stabilize the situation on a more durable footing,” as outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.

He thanked China for hosting the negotiations, singling out Foreign Minister Wang Yi for providing a constructive platform that enabled both sides to focus on confidence-building and risk-reduction measures.

Anwar also credited U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his role in brokering the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, saying Washington’s involvement created the political space for both parties to step back from confrontation and commit to restraint.

Cambodia and Thailand signed an immediate ceasefire Dec. 27 during the third special General Border Committee meeting, marking a turning point in a conflict that had displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed dozens of lives since early December.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, calm continues to prevail along border areas, allowing families to return. The ministry reported 16,343 displaced people have gone back to their villages, reducing the remaining displaced population to 595,545, including 310,844 women and 187,292 children.

Authorities confirmed no new civilian deaths or injuries during the reporting period. Since fighting erupted Dec. 7, 32 civilians have been killed and 95 injured, the ministry said.

The Philippines will assume the ASEAN chairmanship Jan. 1 under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together,” as the region looks to consolidate peace and support recovery in affected border communities.

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The Ministry of Interior said 14,963 people started returning to their villages Monday after the ceasefire took effect under the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special General Border Committee meeting in Pailin Province on Dec. 27.

Despite the initial returns, 596,926 people remain displaced, including 311,599 women and 187,597 children, underscoring the continuing humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Authorities reported no new civilian casualties during the ceasefire. Since Dec. 7, the fighting has killed 32 civilians and injured 95.

Public services remain partially disrupted across several provinces. Hundreds of schools, hospitals and local administrative offices in Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey and Koh Kong remain closed, while affected districts in Battambang Province are set to fully resume operations Tuesday.

The government said it is coordinating rehabilitation efforts, including clearing unexploded ordnance, repairing damaged homes and villages, and facilitating the safe return of displaced families.

Officials also welcomed the outcomes of bilateral and trilateral talks in China’s Yunnan Province on Dec. 29, which they said helped stabilize the border situation.

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Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said Dec. 28 that Vietnam welcomed the signing of the Joint Statement at the 3rd Special Meeting of the General Border Committee on Dec. 27, which committed both sides to halting hostilities and de-escalating tensions.

Vietnam expressed confidence that Cambodia and Thailand will fully implement the agreement and continue negotiations to resolve disputes peacefully in line with international law, the U.N. Charter, the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Hang said Vietnam will closely monitor developments and remains ready to engage in dialogue with both countries, while actively participating in ASEAN’s collective efforts to prevent escalation and promote sustainable peace.

She added that Vietnam supports strengthening the role of the ASEAN Observer Team to help verify and ensure proper implementation of the ceasefire.

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Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump said fighting between the two countries “will stop momentarily” and praised both leaders for reaching what he described as a “very fair conclusion.” He stressed that the United States was proud to play a role in facilitating the agreement.

The ceasefire took effect Dec. 27 during the third Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee, following escalating clashes that killed at least 31 civilians, injured 95 and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, according to Cambodia’s Interior Ministry.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the deal, urging both sides to honor the ceasefire and fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. “The United States welcomes the announcement … halting hostilities along their border,” Rubio said, adding Washington remains committed to supporting the peace framework.

The ceasefire is expected to allow displaced families to begin returning home and reopen border demarcation talks under existing bilateral and regional agreements.

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In a message posted on his official Facebook page, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet stressed that Cambodia has chosen the path of peace despite continued pressure and challenges, saying the ceasefire demonstrates the government’s commitment to safeguarding its people and preserving long-term national stability.

The “ceasefire in place” took effect at noon on Dec. 27 following negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand aimed at halting armed confrontations and reopening diplomatic mechanisms to resolve border disputes.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said Cambodia’s choice for peace comes amid a growing humanitarian toll, with more than 500,000 civilians displaced, 32 people killed and 93 injured since the clashes began. Thousands of children remain out of school, and families continue to wait for the return of soldiers and police officers from the front lines.

He emphasized that maintaining troop positions under the ceasefire does not affect the internationally recognized Cambodia–Thailand border, which remains governed by existing treaties and conventions. Both sides agreed to resume technical border demarcation through the Joint Boundary Commission.

The prime minister added that the ceasefire opens the way for displaced residents to return home safely and confirmed that 18 Cambodian soldiers will be released and repatriated after 72 hours of full ceasefire implementation.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also thanked ASEAN, the United States and China for their roles in facilitating the ceasefire and called for national unity as Cambodia works toward lasting peace.

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In a statement issued by the Australian Embassy in Cambodia, the Canberra government said it welcomes the joint statement of the Third Special Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee, including commitments to protect civilians, resume peaceful border demarcation and de-mining operations, abide by international law and release detained soldiers in line with the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration facilitated by the United States and ASEAN.

Australia thanked the ASEAN Observer Teams for their continued role in monitoring the ceasefire and urged both Cambodia and Thailand to take further steps to secure lasting peace and alleviate the humanitarian impact of the conflict.

Earlier this month, renewed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces resulted in civilian casualties, large-scale displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure, prompting intensified international calls for restraint and peaceful dialogue.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior, since clashes erupted on December 7, at least 31 civilians have been killed, 91 injured and more than 634,000 people displaced, including over 331,000 women and 201,000 children.

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