Cambodia Says UNESCO Team to Inspect Damage at Preah Vihear Temple

H.E. SUM Map, the spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts

PHNOM PENH, 15 January 2026 — Cambodia said a team from UNESCO is expected to visit the Preah Vihear temple to assess damage that Cambodian authorities say was caused by Thai military actions during recent border clashes.

The spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, SUM Map, said on Wednesday that UNESCO experts would conduct an on-site inspection to evaluate the extent of the damage to the World Heritage-listed temple complex.

“An on-the-ground inspection report by UNESCO experts regarding the damage is essential and must be carried out,” SUM Map said, adding that the exact date of the mission had not yet been confirmed but was expected to take place soon.

He said the damage assessment would serve as a critical step toward further measures aimed at protecting, conserving and restoring the ancient temple, as well as preventing any additional destruction. The ministry, he said, is continuing its work on preservation and protection efforts.

SUM Map’s remarks followed a public statement issued by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts detailing damage to the Preah Vihear temple site and surrounding areas, which Cambodia attributed to artillery fire by Thai forces during incidents between July 24–28, 2025, and again from Dec. 7–27, 2025.

Preah Vihear, a centuries-old Hindu temple perched atop a cliff along the Cambodia–Thailand border, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site back in July 2008, and has long been a sensitive focal point in relations between the two countries.