ASIA/CAMBODIA - Apostolic Prefect of Battambang: "Amid tension and fear of war, we help the displaced and pray for peace"

Battambang (Agenzia Fides) – “We are in a time of great tension; the hostilities on the border between Thailand and Cambodia have continued for five days straight. People are very afraid, and there are over 200,000 displaced Cambodians. Pope Leo’s appeal for peace at the General Audience on December 10 gave us great comfort and hope,” Father Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, told Fides, as the military clashes on the Cambodian-Thai border enter their fifth day.
Cambodia accuses the Thai army of continuing the bombings, while Thailand’s interim Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that he will speak with US President Donald Trump, who in October had considered a truce and a peace agreement, which was shattered by renewed hostilities.
“We are aware of the people’s worries and suffering and try to offer them comfort,” Father Figaredo told Fides. “People are primarily asking why; they don’t understand the reasons for such an escalation. We believe that domestic political reasons in Thailand have a strong influence on this issue. Political dynamics are prompting the military to strive for national glory, even through this war with an external enemy, which they hope will restore unity to the country. But we also see in Thailand that the youth do not share this approach and are calling for peace.” The Apostolic Prefect recently visited a refugee camp in Banteay Meanchey province and brought humanitarian aid, as well as moral and spiritual support, to the displaced people: “There are 800 people here, including women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and many children, who feel abandoned and are asking if the world knows what is happening here. That is why the Holy Father’s words are a sign of hope, as his appeal for the pursuit of peace can be invaluable,” he emphasized.
“As a small local church,” adds Father Figaredo, “we are experiencing this time of trial during Advent and placing our precarious situation and our pain in God’s hands. This evening, the church will host a Taizé prayer service led by young people, whose main theme will be peace. This suffering unites our community even more in communion and mutual solidarity. Let us remember that Christ comes to bring us peace and hope, and therefore our vigilant anticipation of Christmas, filled with prayer, will also be more spiritually intense,” he says.
In light of the ongoing severe hardship, Caritas Cambodia is working closely with local authorities. “We are striving to provide 3,200 families with food, water, education, shelter, and psychosocial support,” reports Kim Rattana, Executive Director of Caritas Cambodia. “Caritas Cambodia is contributing to the construction of 20 new camps for displaced people in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Siem Reap, Oddor Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey, and is providing 1,500 emergency shelters, food aid, and sanitation facilities for 5,000 families, as well as psychosocial support and protection for children and adults,” Rattana emphasized.
Since December 7, there has been a severe escalation of hostilities along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. The humanitarian impact has been significant: 13 civilians have been killed, another 60 injured, and a total of 37,000 families, or over 190,000 people, have been displaced in various border provinces. Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Battambong, and Pursat Province were subjected to artillery bombardments, tank attacks, drone strikes, and airstrikes. The intensity and geographical spread of these attacks triggered widespread fear and the displacement of civilians across six provinces.
Thai forces specifically targeted Prolean Thmor in Preah Vihear Province, triggering a series of increasingly intense cross-border attacks. On December 8, the hostilities escalated significantly, with 12 sites surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple, the Tamoan Temple, and Prasath Khnar under coordinated shelling, posing a direct threat to civilians and cultural heritage.
The National Committee for Disaster Management has registered 377 schools that have been closed due to the unsafe situation, directly impacting over 78,000 students in the six worst-affected provinces. Emergency shelters, mostly set up in pagodas, schools, community centers, and temporary accommodations, quickly became overcrowded, increasing the need for relief supplies, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/12/2025)

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