Temporary Housing Plan Launched for Families Affected by Border Tensions

Temporary Housing Plan Launched for Families Affected by Border Tensions

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, March 24, 2026 — Cambodian authorities said housing and land allocated to families displaced by border tensions in Banteay Meanchey province are temporary measures and do not constitute compensation for property they lost.

In a statement, the Banteay Meanchey provincial administration said the relocation of affected residents to Svay Chek district is intended only as a short-term solution while the government seeks to resolve the situation with Thailand.

The move follows reports that Cambodian villagers in several border communities were unable to access their homes and land after Thai forces allegedly blocked the areas.

The administration said the affected villages include areas in Ou Chrov and Thma Puok districts, where residents have been displaced from their homes and farmland.

Authorities said the government, under Prime Minister Hun Manet, has arranged land under a veterans’ development project to build housing for displaced families.

The relocation site, covering about 400 hectares in Svay Chek district, is being developed with basic infrastructure, and some houses have already been constructed and allocated to families through a lottery system.

Officials stressed that the arrangement is temporary and that displaced residents will be able to return to their original homes once negotiations with Thailand are concluded.

The statement underscores Cambodia’s position that the affected land remains under its sovereignty, while authorities continue efforts to address the border situation and support impacted communities.