Key facts
- Over 20,000 Cambodian civilians are displaced along the Thai border.
- The displacement follows fighting that occurred last year.
- UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews is monitoring the situation.
- Andrews urged Thailand and Cambodia to cooperate on facilitating returns.
- Andrews called for a crackdown on scam centers.
- Cambodian migrant workers fear increased debt and exploitation.
- Thailand has tightened its border security.
- Tightened security makes legal employment harder for Cambodians in Thailand.
- Workers may rely more on informal, exploitative channels.
More than 20,000 Cambodian civilians are currently displaced along the border with Thailand, a situation stemming from fighting that occurred last year. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, has called for collaborative efforts between Thailand and Cambodia to expedite the return of these displaced individuals to their homes. Andrews also urged for a crackdown on scam centers, which are often linked to human trafficking and exploitation.