The border situation has eased since Cambodia and Thailand signed a ceasefire agreement on December 27. Border residents who had evacuated because of the fighting have begun returning to their homes in recent days. However, security risks remain in some areas, with certain locations still designated as off-limits and restrictions not yet fully lifted.
As the situation gradually stabilizes, schools in several Cambodian border provinces have begun reopening this week. Schools closed by the conflict have reopened after safety preparations, including checks of air-raid shelters and stocks of emergency supplies. However, displacement and other factors still prevent many pupils from returning. As of December 25, 1,311 schools in seven provinces—Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Battambang, Siem Reap and Koh Kong—had closed, affecting 15,034 teachers and 322,103 pupils.
