Thai - Cambodia Conflict Surin Declared War Disaster Zone

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint News

 

Surin has become the first province in Thailand to be officially declared a “war disaster zone” amid escalating armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border.

 

In an urgent directive issued on the evening of 27 July, Surin Governor Chamnarn Chuentha notified all district chiefs, the President of the Surin Provincial Administrative Organisation and the Mayor of Surin Municipality of the decision, citing the worsening situation across several border districts, Buachet, Sangkha, Kap Choeng, and Phanom Dong Rak.

 

The governor noted that these areas have been subjected to continuous armed exchanges involving various types of weaponry. Recent attacks have directly targeted vital infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, petrol stations, convenience stores and populated communities. Authorities warn the situation may continue to intensify.

 

The new status grants local administrations the authority to act under emergency disaster provisions, equivalent to those applied in natural disaster zones and to channel funds to support relief efforts for affected populations.

 

The governor outlined four key directives for local administrative organisations (LAOs):

 

1. Security and Order: LAOs are to prioritise public safety and maintain order in their respective jurisdictions, with a particular focus on safeguarding lives and property.

 

2. Legal Framework: Any incidents involving harm to civilians or damage to property resulting from border clashes are to be treated as disasters under the 2007 Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act. Relief operations should also comply with the Ministry of Finance’s 2019 regulations on emergency financial assistance.

 

3. Emergency Funding: In case of an emergency, LAOs may allocate funding from their annual budgets or draw on central contingency reserves, as per the Ministry of Interior’s 2020 budget guidelines. If funds are insufficient, further measures must be pursued through legal channels.

 

4. Support for Displaced Persons: LAOs must assist displaced individuals fleeing conflict zones in accordance with 2020 regulations governing emergency subsistence aid, ensuring there is no overlap with other agencies’ relief efforts. All assistance must be reported to supervisory authorities for oversight and legal compliance.

 

The directive affirms that local executives will serve as on-the-ground disaster response commanders, working in coordination with provincial and district leadership to manage relief operations effectively.

 

The declaration marks a serious shift in the Thai government’s response to the border conflict, highlighting growing concerns over the humanitarian impact on local communities in Surin and the broader northeastern region.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-07-28

 

 

 

[JoePai]

Emergency Funding

 

Ah so that's the real reason 

[JimHuaHin]

Has anyone declared a "war" yet?

 

It is a "conflict" not a "war"; but some seem very intent in calling it a "war", to the advantage of whom?

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Surin Governor Clarifies: Not a War Disaster Declaration, But an Emergency Situation

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

The Governor of Surin Province has clarified, on the 28 July, that the region has not been declared a war zone, but rather an “emergency disaster area” due to incursions by foreign forces, amid escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border.

 

Earlier reports had suggested Surin was the first province to declare a “war disaster”, prompting public concern. However, Governor Chamnarn Chuenta confirmed in a press conference, that the official classification is an “Emergency Disaster Area (due to foreign armed forces)”, explicitly stating, “This is not a declaration of war.”

 

The declaration, he explained, enables provincial authorities to access emergency funds under the Ministry of Finance’s 2019 regulations regarding advance payments for natural and emergency disaster relief. A formal declaration of war, he added, would require a parliamentary vote with a two-thirds majority and a Royal Proclamation from His Majesty the King, a far more serious and constitutionally significant step.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from CIB 2025-07-29