Over 3,800 Square Kilometres Contaminated, 364,000 Civilians Affected: CMAC Chief Counters Thai Denial

PHNOM PENH, August 11, 2026 – The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has pushed back against what it calls Thailand's attempts to rewrite the narrative of the border conflict, releasing detailed figures on the scale of destruction and displacement caused by the war.

CMAC Director Heng Ratana issued a statement rejecting Thailand's reported challenge to United Nations data on the humanitarian crisis. He accused Thai authorities of trying to "alter, deny, shift blame, and divert" attention by fabricating a new story to hide what he described as their "massive hypocrisy."

According to CMAC's baseline surveys, explosive remnants of war from Thai military operations have contaminated more than 3,800 square kilometres of land across 335 villages. The surveys also found that 349 civilian towns and villages were directly affected, impacting 91,411 families—roughly 364,984 individuals.

Heng Ratana stressed that these numbers do not account for those who fled their homes in fear and have not yet returned. He also pointed to the devastating toll on civilian infrastructure, including ancient temples, schools, hospitals, pagodas, and tens of thousands of homes, all damaged by cluster bombs, aerial strikes, and chemical agents.

"The evidence remains, standing sorrowfully waiting for justice," he said.

— Source: Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Kw5DWqgon/

Reported by The Khmer Today