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Siem Reap — Sitting in a hammock underneath a tree close to a pond at Wat Prasat Khnar in Srey Snam district, 35-year-old Sek Theary rubs her swollen stomach on a heat December night. 9 months pregnant and displaced from Oddar Meanchey province, she is anticipated to ship early January 2026. It’s the second time Theary fled house because the July border battle in 2025.
“I have no idea when I will return house and rebuild my life,” she stated, her voice laced with fear. “Day-after-day is tough. My stomach is heavy, and I battle to stroll, sit, and sleep. I’m continuously afraid of bombs. I really feel unhappy that my youngsters need to endure this. I simply need to go house—I fled with nothing.”
Life within the refugee camp is troublesome. Theary talked about poor hygiene, and restricted entry to wash water and nutritious meals there. She is especially anxious about not getting sufficient nourishment, which may impression breastfeeding efforts when her child is born. “I don’t understand how lengthy I can endure this. All of the rice from our fields is gone,” she stated.
Chhorn Phloy, who manages the Wat Khnar refugee middle, stated as of December 30, 2025, about 520 households have been sheltering on the web site, largely from frontline areas equivalent to O’Smach, Ta Krabei, and Prasat Khnar. Amongst them are 11 pregnant girls and three who gave delivery just lately.
“Extra help is urgently wanted for pregnant and postpartum girls, together with important provides and nutritious meals,” Phloy stated. “If extra help is supplied, it could be of nice assist as folks right here nonetheless can not return safely to their houses but.”
Giving delivery whereas fleeing
At Wat Run in Run Ta Ek commune, Chuon Sophy from Trapaing Prasat district, Oddar Meanchey province, has fled thrice because the battle started. She recounted the pressure of the primary evacuation whereas eight-and-a-half- months pregnant. The journey by motorcycle, mixed with concern for her security, brought about her to present delivery earlier than her due date.
“I gave delivery prematurely. I believe it was due to the fixed fleeing. I had ache in my stomach, I felt weak, and didn’t have a lot time to relaxation whereas operating from shelling,” Sophy stated whereas breastfeeding her child. “I instructed myself to remain calm and powerful, and in the long run, I used to be capable of give delivery naturally.”
Sophy stated life within the refugee camp was gruelling. Overcrowding, restricted meals, and poor vitamin made day by day survival troublesome. Her solely hope was to return house and supply a steady setting for her new child. However regardless of the ceasefire, she and her household haven’t been capable of return as they await the federal government to verify it’s secure.
Cheng Changkeus, a farmer from Banteay Meanchey, fled on December 8, additionally whereas pregnant. After a two-week keep on the Wat Sampov Loun refugee camp, she gave delivery on December 20 at a close-by well being middle.
“I can’t run wherever, and I don’t really feel like doing something. I pity my youngsters, however I inform myself that irrespective of how arduous it’s, I need to endure,” she stated. Sitting in a rubber tent along with her new child, she stated their day by day meals consisted of instantaneous noodles, fish, and rice.
Ready to go house
Tit Vun, 22, from Oddar Meanchey province, stated that she escaped to Kralanh district on December 8. She has a child, who is just three and a half months previous. Fleeing from house with out fundamental provides and a correct place to relaxation brought about extreme hardship—particularly for her toddler, who has developed a rash on the physique.
Vun stated her child will get excessive fever and pores and skin rash usually, which she believes is attributable to poor hygiene and unclean water.
“It’s arduous to see my youngster sick. As quickly as we arrive on the displacement camp, my child will get in poor health. Dwelling right here could be very totally different from house. Some days there isn’t sufficient water, and once we use unclean water, my youngster will get sick. My youngster can also be susceptible to sickness when there may be not sufficient nutritious meals,” stated Vun.
She has no possibility of meals as a result of she didn’t carry any cash when she fled, she stated. “I used to be solely fascinated with security and surviving.”
Because of this, their meals on the displacement camp depends on help, equivalent to instantaneous noodles, rice, canned fish, and duck eggs.
“I eat solely instantaneous noodles and canned fish as a result of I don’t have cash to purchase meals from outdoors like others. All I would like is to have the ability to return house when peace returns,” Vun stated.
Round 10 am, Changkeus was seen sitting in a rubber tent tied to a tree, breastfeeding her child, whereas her husband ready lunch close by. Subsequent to her, a number of objects, together with sacks of rice, a rice cooker, fish sauce, papaya, and cooking pots, have been seen.
Requested about her meals, she sighed, saying that her decisions within the refugee camp have been so restricted, made up largely of instantaneous noodles, fish, fish sauce, and different dry meals.
“This isn’t our house, so it is vitally arduous as I’ve a small youngster. At house, cooking, bathing, and sleeping are straightforward. I fled right here with out bringing any provides for childbirth—all the pieces was donated. The meals isn’t sufficient; I eat a bit of no matter is obtainable,” she stated.
Regardless of the ceasefire, Changkeus stated her household doesn’t dare to return house and can wait till the state of affairs alongside the border, particularly in her hometown, is calm and secure.
“I don’t need the rest. I simply need the ceasefire [to last] and peace, so I can carry my youngster [newborn] house. Each time I take into consideration my youngsters, I really feel unhappy and cry for them,” she stated.
Support underneath pressure
In response to UNICEF, a wholesome being pregnant requires girls to relaxation, a clear setting, common prenatal care, and nutritious eating regimen. Throughout being pregnant, their physique requires further vitamins to help the mom’s well being and child’s progress. With out ample vitamin, the infant may change into malnourished, which may have an effect on long-term well being and growth.
Chamroeun Chamrong, supervisor of Wat Sampov Loun refugee middle, stated about 900 households stay on the web site regardless of the ceasefire. Pregnant and postpartum girls are among the many most affected by meals shortages and lack of day by day necessities.
“Extended displacement may result in well being issues for moms and newborns because of insufficient care, poor vitamin, and an unsuitable residing setting,” he stated.
Taing Sopheap, deputy director of the Transcultural Psychosocial Group (TPO), highlighted the psychological toll on displaced girls.
“Psychological well-being throughout being pregnant is vital for a kid’s growth. Stress can have an effect on breastfeeding and mom–youngster bonding,” she stated.
Sopheap emphasised that psychological misery amongst pregnant girls is vital however usually ignored.
“Pregnant girls are deeply nervous about meals and fundamental wants,” she stated. “Psychological well being impacts the infant’s growth, particularly within the first 1,000 days.”
Stress, concern, and hormonal imbalance can cut back milk manufacturing and weaken mother-child bonding, she defined.
“TPO works on psychological help, however emergency response should be multi-sectoral,” Sopheap stated. “No group can do that alone.”
She known as on authorities, civil society, and the general public to proceed supporting displaced households.
“The state of affairs could appear calm, however individuals are nonetheless residing in camps,” she stated. “We ask Cambodians to proceed the spirit of Khmer serving to Khmer.”
The Ministry of Inside stated as of December 30, 2025, about 574,000 folks remained displaced, together with over 300,000 girls and 184,083 youngsters. The battle broken homes, public infrastructure, and well being services, inflicting communities to battle.
Efforts to finish the battle have concerned worldwide mediation and a ceasefire settlement in July, adopted by a joint declaration in Kuala Lumpur with the help of ASEAN and the U.S.
Regardless of the efforts, clashes flared once more on December 7, extending 21 days, earlier than a ceasefire was carried out in late December 2025 to freeze troop positions and allow civilians to return house safely.
For displaced moms, the day by day actuality is a fragile steadiness of survival, motherhood, and hope. “I don’t need the rest,” Changkeus stated, including that she solely needs a long-lasting ceasefire in order that she will be able to carry her child house.
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