Cambodia’s ‘Waiting Villages’ Offer Shelter but Not Home

Phnom Penh Post

Thousands of Cambodians uprooted by last year’s border clashes with Thailand are rebuilding their lives in government‑built “waiting villages”, yet many say the new houses cannot replace the homes they lost.

Rows of white stilted houses with bright green zinc roofs now stand in Banteay Meanchey province, each with a small plot for vegetables. For families who spent months in temple tents, the settlements are a welcome improvement. But for Keo Sotheary, who fled Boeung Trakuon in December, the longing remains. “Every day, I dream of going back home,” she said, recalling how Thai forces seized her village.

The conflict, which flared in July and again in December 2025, displaced hundreds of thousands. Most have returned, but more than 20,000 remain barred from their land, with Thai soldiers controlling access. Bangkok insists it has reclaimed Thai territory long occupied by Cambodians, a claim Phnom Penh disputes.

Residents are trying to adapt. Cafés, grocery shops and roadside stalls have sprung up, subsidised by government support. Former leader Hun Sen has promised land titles, signalling permanence. Yet reminders of the violence linger: abandoned toys, bullet‑scarred houses and even an unexploded rocket in Chouk Chey. Rights group Licadho says satellite images show over 600 homes destroyed after the ceasefire.

For many, the villages are both refuge and reminder. “We are building a new life here,” said Kun Sytha, whose family home was cleared by Thai troops. “If they can resolve the problems, we will go back. If not, we don’t know what to do.”

The settlements may provide stability, but for thousands of Cambodians, the dream of return remains painfully out of reach.

-2026-09-06