Conditions in several camps remain challenging 

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries are responding with humanitarian aid after recent clashes in Cambodia. Salesians and students have been impacted. Don Bosco School in Poipet closed on Dec. 9 as fighting along the Cambodia–Thailand border escalated. The closure came amid one of the most serious flare ups in recent years, with heavy clashes displacing thousands of civilians on both sides. The school remains closed.

According to Cambodian authorities, border provinces such as Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey have seen large scale evacuations, with families fleeing artillery fire and aerial strikes. According to current estimates, nearly 500,000 people have been displaced across the country. While some families remain close to the border, others have moved deeper inland in search of security and assistance. The strain on host communities and local infrastructure is evident, with rising food prices, limited water supplies and growing health concerns adding to the hardship.

A Salesian team met families of students and staff affected by the violence. Many people have been living for weeks in makeshift shelters, government school buildings, or overcrowded camps after abandoning their homes near the border. Their displacement has disrupted education, livelihoods, and access to basic services.

During the visit, the team distributed food, basic household supplies, hygiene materials and small treats for the children. The gesture aimed to offer immediate relief while also providing reassurance and emotional support to families facing uncertainty and loss.

Conditions in several camps remain challenging. Families reported limited access to safe drinking water, often forcing them to purchase water at a high cost. Safety concerns, including snakes entering shelters at night, have heightened fear, particularly among children and the elderly. Health risks linked to poor sanitation, overcrowding and restricted access to medical care were also observed.

A Salesian said, “Don Bosco Cambodia is appealing to the international community, partner organizations and benefactors to assist families of displaced students — especially those now living in temporary camps or without stable housing. Support is urgently needed for food, shelter, transportation, school materials and psychosocial assistance.”

The Salesian added, “The Salesian community also renews its call for peace, urging all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, especially children, and to pursue dialogue to end the violence. Don Bosco Cambodia emphasizes that education, safety and human dignity must remain above conflict.”

Salesians in other regions of Cambodia began to mobilize support as well. Salesian houses in Phnom Penh, Kep, Sihanoukville, Battambang, and Poipet have begun raising funds to provide food, shelter, and essential support to displaced students and their relatives. Local Don Bosco institutions are preparing contingency plans to assist learners whose schooling may be disrupted by the crisis, ensuring access to meals, transportation and pastoral care.

Salesians in Cambodia provide primary and secondary schools along with technical education so youth have an opportunity to gain an education and develop the skills for employment. These educational services are bolstered by social development programs that help youth have access to basic needs like food, shelter and life skills training.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Cambodia – Don Bosco Poipet Closed as Border Conflict Displaces Thousands

ANS – Cambodia – Airstrike near Poipet heightens civilian hardship; Salesians mobilize Support

ANS – Cambodia: Don Bosco visits Families Displaced by Border Conflict in Siem Reap and Uddor Meanchey

Salesian Missions – Cambodia

World Bank – Cambodia