UN expert reports over 20,000 Cambodians still unable to return to homes on Thai border

More than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain displaced along the border with Thailand, according to UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews. Of the roughly 650,000 Cambodians displaced in the border region at the end of last year, these thousands are still unable to go home, with some towns and villages occupied by Thai troops.

Andrews urged both governments to cooperate under international law to expedite returns, noting that closed border crossings are harming Cambodia’s economy and border communities. He also highlighted a “cyberscam crisis,” citing the shutdown of over 600 scam sites, the revocation of licences for 29 casinos and criminal proceedings against about 3,000 operators, while senior officials linked to scams have not yet been targeted.