More than half a million civilians have been forced from their homes as heavy artillery and airstrikes shatter the fragile peace along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

The rapid escalation marks a dangerous unraveling of the July truce, drawing the United States back into the fray as President Donald Trump vows to mediate a conflict that threatens to destabilize the wider Southeast Asian region.

Sanctuary Under Fire

The humanitarian toll has been swift and severe. Officials confirmed that at least 15 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have been killed since the hostilities renewed. To put the scale of displacement into perspective, the number of evacuees—over 500,000—roughly equals the entire population of Nakuru City.

Displaced families have sought refuge in pagodas, schools, and makeshift camps, but even these sanctuaries are becoming precarious. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that families were being evacuated from temple grounds after Thai fighter jets were spotted operating dangerously close to the sites.

“Authorities say it is not safe anymore,” said Seut Soeung, 30, describing the chaos as she rested by a roadside. Her account paints a grim picture of the exodus, with vehicles packed with people, pets, and meager possessions clogging the roads away from the frontlines.

A Colonial Legacy of Conflict

The violence is fueled by a dispute over the 800km (500-mile) frontier, a legacy of colonial-era demarcation lines that failed to clearly assign sovereignty over historic temples in the region. The conflict has now expanded to five provinces across both nations, involving advanced weaponry including:

• Fighter jets conducting low-altitude maneuvers.
• Heavy tanks deployed to the border zones.
• Surveillance and combat drones coordinating strikes.

This week’s fighting is the deadliest since July, when dozens were killed before a shaky ceasefire was brokered following direct intervention by President Trump. Both Bangkok and Phnom Penh have traded accusations regarding who fired the first shot, signaling that a return to the negotiating table may be fraught with difficulty.