Phnom penh: A United Nations human rights envoy expressed deep emotion Friday over the plight of war-displaced Cambodians along the Cambodian-Thai border, calling on both Cambodia and Thailand to urgently resolve border obstacles and expedite the safe return of affected civilians.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, speaking at a press conference in Phnom Penh on July 31, Mr. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, shared observations from his recent visit to temporary shelters and border areas, following Thai forces' incursions in 2025. Mr. Andrews said he was profoundly moved by the tearful testimonies of displaced villagers detailing their losses, destroyed homes, and bombed communities.

While approximately 650,000 civilians were evacuated from the border zone late last year, more than 20,000 individuals remain stranded in displacement camps, unable to return home due to the ongoing Thai military presence in their native villages, according to Mr. Andrews. During his field visit to the edge of border towns, the UN Special Rapporteur reported seeing barricades and barbed wire set up by Thai forces, blocking residents from accessing their homes. He observed bullet-riddled and heavily damaged structures, as well as unexploded ordnance in the area.

"Under international law, displaced persons have a fundamental right to return to their homes," he stressed, highlighting that the Dec. 27, 2025 ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand explicitly guarantees civilians safe, unhindered return to resume their livelihoods. He emphasised that human rights concerns extend beyond displacement, noting that camp residents are suffering from joblessness, loss of property, and extreme anxiety about their future.

Mr. Andrews called on both nations to work collaboratively to dismantle border restrictions and facilitate a prompt, safe return for all displaced families.