Cambodia Tells UNHCR: 20,000 Citizens Still Cannot Return Home Due to Thai Occupation

PHNOM PENH — Oct. 14, 2026: Cambodia has told the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that more than 20,000 Cambodians remain unable to return to their homes due to the continued occupation of Cambodian territory by Thai armed forces, despite the ceasefire holding.

H.E. Ambassador Ke Sovann, Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the UN Office at Geneva, delivered the statement during the General Debate of the 77th Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme (UNHCR) on Oct. 13, 2026.

Ambassador Ke Sovann reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to international refugee protection and its longstanding cooperation with UNHCR, as a State Party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

He stressed that the occupation and the continued destruction of Cambodian property by Thai armed forces constitute serious violations of Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are contrary to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Cambodia emphasised the urgent need for the full and good-faith implementation, in their entirety, of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of Oct. 26, 2025, and the Joint Statement of Dec. 27, 2025 — with strong emphasis on facilitating the safe and dignified return of displaced Cambodians to their homes.

The Ambassador encouraged UNHCR, in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and in close coordination with the Royal Government and other UN agencies, to support efforts addressing the protection and humanitarian needs of internally displaced Cambodians and to contribute to durable solutions.

He underscored that preventing forced displacement requires full respect for the UN Charter, international law and a firm commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, stressing that commitments to peace and dialogue must be matched by concrete actions on the ground.

In conclusion, Ambassador Ke Sovann called for adequate, predictable and sustainable funding to enable UNHCR to fulfil its mandate effectively, and reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to continued constructive cooperation with the agency.

Source: Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the UN Office at Geneva

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bu3mjGBDx/

Reported by The Khmer Today