UNESCO Offers Support to Restore Preah Vihear Temple

UNESCO Offers Support to Restore Preah Vihear Temple

PHNOM PENH, April 30, 2026 — UNESCO has pledged to support Cambodia in restoring the Preah Vihear temple after damage sustained during recent conflict, following talks between Cambodian leader Hun Sen and the organisation’s country representative.

Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO’s representative in Cambodia, expressed concern over the impact on the UNESCO-listed site and said the agency would work with Cambodian authorities to repair and preserve affected heritage structures.

The commitment came after Hun Sen raised the issue of damage to Cambodia’s cultural heritage, particularly Preah Vihear temple, which he said had been affected during recent tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border.

Bonetti said UNESCO would cooperate with relevant institutions to support restoration efforts and continue broader work to safeguard Cambodia’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Both sides also discussed strengthening cooperation in education, with Hun Sen highlighting the importance of human capital development for economic resilience and national growth.

UNESCO reaffirmed its support for Cambodia’s education sector, including collaboration with government institutions to enhance capacity and development.

The meeting underscored ongoing cooperation between Cambodia and UNESCO in heritage preservation and education, with both sides agreeing to expand joint efforts in the future.