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Hundreds of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers have returned home from Thailand, following a week of deadly border clashes.
A spokesperson for Cambodia’s labour ministry, Sun Mesa, told AFP that over 750,000 Cambodians, including children, have crossed the border since fighting erupted on July 24.
The clashes, which centred on a long-standing dispute over border temples, killed at least 43 people. A ceasefire was agreed upon last Tuesday, but many Cambodians are still fleeing, with reports of attacks on migrants in Thailand.
On Wednesday, the Ban Laem-Daung border post was filled with returning workers carrying their belongings.
While Cambodian officials gave a specific number for returnees, a Thai immigration officer confirmed that “there are many crossing back” but did not provide an official count.
Thai media reports, however, cite a figure of more than 200,000 returnees.
Currently, about 1.2 million Cambodians live and work in Thailand.
The recent conflict displaced nearly 300,000 people, forcing them to flee their homes as both sides used jets, rockets, and artillery in the rural border region.
Both Cambodian and Thai officials have begun meetings in Malaysia to de-escalate tensions, but Cambodia’s defence ministry spokeswoman, Maly Socheata, confirmed that forces remain on high alert.
