Border Crisis Deepens Cambodia’s Child Hunger Emergency

UNICEF

A worsening border crisis between Cambodia and Thailand is compounding an already dire malnutrition emergency for children across Cambodia, UNICEF has warned.

With over 22% of children under five suffering from stunted growth and 10% facing moderate to severe wasting, the country’s child nutrition crisis ranks among the worst in Southeast Asia. The recent displacement of families and closure of schools and health centres in five provinces has further strained fragile systems, leaving thousands of children without access to essential care.

UNICEF, in partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and the Child Nutrition Fund, has ramped up efforts to tackle the crisis. In 2024, the organisation expanded a low-tech, community-based screening method using colour-coded MUAC tapes to help parents and health workers detect malnutrition early. The initiative reached over 1,095 villages, training more than 2,000 local health volunteers and assessing nearly 20,000 children.

Alongside screening, UNICEF scaled up infant and young child feeding counselling, reaching 248,000 caregivers with guidance on nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days of life. Growth monitoring has also been integrated into routine health services, with staff at 132 facilities trained to manage severe cases and report data accurately.

These efforts led to the screening of 324,000 children under five, with 10,500 diagnosed and treated for severe acute malnutrition. Through a funding match scheme, Cambodia secured enough ready-to-use therapeutic food to treat over 11,000 children.

However, the recent influx of returnees from Thailand and ongoing displacement have intensified humanitarian needs. Families are returning to damaged homes, lost crops and limited access to clean water, education and nutrition services. UNICEF’s emergency response includes WASH support, child protection and learning programmes, but officials say more donor support is urgently needed.

UNICEF’s Director-General for Cambodia, Atthaphol Charoenchansa, stressed the importance of sustaining these services: “Protecting children from the life-long consequences of undernutrition requires consistent investment — not just in times of peace, but especially in moments of crisis.”

The situation remains fluid, but the message is clear: without swift action, thousands of Cambodian children risk being left behind.

-2025-10-17