Skirmishes reportedly continued Tuesday despite a ceasefire agreement reached at midnight on July 28 between Thailand and Cambodia, following five days of deadly cross-border violence.
As uncertainty lingers, Church leaders in northeastern Thailand have decided to keep evacuees at emergency shelters until the situation stabilizes and the safety of returning parishioners can be assured.
“Evacuees from the border region with Cambodia are being advised not to return to their homes, despite a ceasefire agreement,” said Bishop Stephen Boonlert Phromsena of Ubon Ratchathani Diocese, which borders Cambodia and has borne the brunt of the clashes. “While the ceasefire offers hope for an end to the conflict, we are prioritizing the safety and security of our parishioners displaced by the recent clashes.”
The Thai government acknowledged on Tuesday morning at Government House that communication gaps remain in implementing the ceasefire.
“There’s still something that hasn’t been fully communicated,” Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai admitted. “Today, the army commanders of both countries will hold discussions. After the talks, the ceasefire should be much clearer.”
Church continues relief efforts amid fragile peace
Hundreds of Catholics from seven parishes in the Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani, along with nearly 200,000 residents, have been evacuated to shelters in Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buri Ram provinces.
Bishop Phromsena has tasked the diocesan Social Affairs Department — supported by priests and Sisters from the Congregation of the Lovers of the Cross Ubon Ratchathani and the Social Affairs Office of the Diocese of Chanthaburi — with managing three main sheltering centers. These teams provide food, clean drinking water, clothing, hygiene items, and daily necessities.
Donation centers have also been opened across the diocese to accept contributions from other regions, ensuring sufficient supplies for evacuees.
“If the security agencies confirm that it is safe to return home, the diocese will coordinate with the parishes to facilitate the return of evacuees and the reopening of our two schools, which had to close due to the shelling,” Bishop Phromsena said.
He added that this humanitarian effort aligns with the mission of the Jubilee 2025 Year, which calls the Church to “share and walk alongside those in need with love and hope.”
The bishop shared that evacuees long to return to their normal lives. “Some have pets at home, and no one is there to take care of them,” he said, echoing the distress felt by many forced to flee with little notice.
Regional and international concern
International pressure has mounted on both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to end the fighting, especially ahead of a mediation meeting in Malaysia, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
What began as a minor exchange of small-arms fire escalated into a broader conflict involving rocket launchers, drones, and fighter jets during the recent five-day flare-up.
While hopes for peace remain, both governments — and the communities affected — now await the outcome of military talks and ASEAN-led mediation efforts. The Church, meanwhile, continues to stand in solidarity with the displaced, offering refuge, compassion, and a commitment to peace.
