Ministry of Interior Confirms Latest Fatality in Oddar Meanchey; Education Ministry Reports 242,000 Students Affected
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The humanitarian and social toll of the continued hostilities along the Cambodia-Thailand border escalated further today, as government ministries released updated casualty and displacement figures.
I. Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
According to the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, another Cambodian civilian was killed this morning amid what it described as continued Thai attacks on Cambodia’s sovereignty.
- Latest Victim: The latest fatality was identified as a woman from Oddar Meanchey province.
- Civilian Death Toll: Her death brings the total number of civilians killed since the escalation of hostilities on December 7, 2025, to 13.
- Casualties and Displacement: The Ministry further reported that 74 people have been injured. The number of displaced civilians forced to flee their homes has risen dramatically to more than 400,000.
II. Educational System Disrupted
On the same day, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) announced significant disruptions to schooling due to the deteriorating security situation.
- School Closures: Schools in six provinces have been forced to shut down.
- Total Affected: In total, 1,039 schools have been closed. This action affects 9,797 teachers and a total of 242,881 students.
The Ministry of Education cited Thailand’s aggressive military operations as the reason for the closures across the affected provinces.
III. Affected Provinces
The provinces most severely affected by the military operations and subsequent school closures include:
- Preah Vihear
- Oddar Meanchey
- Banteay Meanchey
- Pursat
- Battambang
- Koh Kong
The reports highlight the rapidly increasing civilian impact of the ongoing conflict.