Thailand and Cambodia are firing at each other again — but who’s really paying the price?
It’s not just soldiers or politicians; it’s the children living along the border.
On Monday, Thai forces responded to Cambodian fire in Ubon Ratchathani Province with air strikes.
Cambodia insists Thai troops struck first in Preah Vihear.
At least one Thai soldier and four Cambodian civilians were killed, with about a dozen more wounded.
But for Thai teacher Siksaka Pongsuwan, the invisible victims are the kids.
“They are losing opportunities and… precious time,” he says, as nearly 650 schools on the Thai side were shut for safety.
Videos from Cambodian border provinces show children fleeing schools, some ending up in underground bunkers just to have a meal.
This is far from new. In July, fighting erupted during exams, forcing schools online — but not every student could access lessons.
Children Amid Conflict
Former journalist Mech Dara shared heartbreaking clips on social media.
The clips showed kids in uniform, eating in bunkers, living through what he called “a horrible nightmare.”
The clashes stem from a century-old border dispute, inflamed again with rocket barrages and air strikes in July.
Despite ceasefires brokered with international help — including one celebrated with US President Donald Trump — tensions flare.
Thailand recently suspended implementation after soldiers were injured.
As Pongsuwan asks, “Should we leave? Will it really be safer?
Or should we stay?” It’s a question no child should have to consider while trying to go to school.
Sometimes, the true cost of conflict isn’t on the battlefield — it’s in lost childhoods.
