Ceasefire Holds as 100,000 Displaced Cambodians Return, 18 Soldiers Repatriated

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Jan. 2, 2026) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior said Thursday the ceasefire between Cambodian and Thai forces continued to hold along the border, allowing more than 100,000 displaced civilians to return home and all 18 Cambodian soldiers previously held by Thailand to be safely repatriated.

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.