In response to the concern many of you have shared, Zion Dyson, Program Director of Cambodian Village Fund, offers a firsthand account from Battambang City, Cambodia of the escalating conflict along the Thai border nearby. December 19th, 2025
Hello supporters,
I want to give you a window into my experience, living in Cambodia during wartime.
I have been following the border conflict since it erupted last July. At the time, I was traveling with my boyfriend in Laos. We learned that our friends in the US Peace Corps stationed in the North-Western provinces along the border were evacuated to Battambang City. It was surreal to experience so much fear and confusion while away from home. We hurried back to Battambang and spent time with our friends. We watched comfort movies, like Monsters Inc, to get our minds off the conflict.
After the peace agreement was signed in Malaysia, things seemed to simmer down. My boyfriend and I left Cambodia to visit family in the US. The Peace Corps returned to their sites, a new cohort of Fulbrights came to Cambodia, and I returned home to Battambang in November filled with optimism and excitement to start working full time for Cambodian Village Fund.
Then, on December 8th, I learned that the conflict had escalated. Thai troops were shooting, dropping bombs, and using toxic gas on Cambodian soil. My Peace Corps friends were evacuated to Siem Reap, not Battambang City this time.
My best friends in the Peace Corps live in Sisophon, a city in Banteay Meanchey Province just an hour away from Battambang to the north, towards the Thai border. This town is a second home to me, and I often go hiking and swimming there on the weekends. On December 15th, Thailand bombed a town between Sisophon and Siem Reap, more than fifty km from the border. The town had previously been a Peace Corps site, and a local school was destroyed. Now, Sisophon is stuck between air raids and the Thai border, where fighting is rapidly escalating. The Peace Corps volunteers are not allowed back in Sisophon and will be assigned a new site. They are devastated.
One of my Peace Corps friends in Sisophon is Alma. She just finished her Peace Corps service and is still living in Cambodia with her host mom. On December 15th, Alma and her host mom were going to bring supplies to a nearby refugee camp, when they heard about the nearby bombing to the east. Quickly, Alma and her host grandmother packed their bags and evacuated to Siem Reap. Alma’s host mom had to stay behind to take care of their animals and the house. Alma forwarded me some of her host mom’s voice messages. In her typical calm and gentle tone, Alma’s host mom explained that most people had evacuated, no one was attending the local schools, and gunshots and bombs could be heard nearby. However, just like any parent would, Alma’s host mom urged her “koun konbarang” (foreign daughter) not to worry.
I have lost my beautiful nature refuge in Sisophon, and I am concerned the conflict may escalate to Battambang city or even Prey Touch Commune, where CVF’s programs are located. I am enrolled in the STEP program, which alerts US travelers about travel advisories and provides a means of contact with the US embassy. I am in communication with my friends in the Peace Corps and Fulbright programs for any additional updates. My community here has agreed on an escape plan, with passports and go-bags ready in case we need to flee to the Phnom Penh airport or Vietnam. We are taking things one day at a time.
It’s difficult to know that I, and many of my foreign friends, have a way out of Cambodia. We have the passports and privileges needed to flee and return to our home countries. The situation for my Cambodian friends is a different story. Most Cambodians do not have passports or funds to leave the country. Many people have farms with crops or animals that they must take care of, not to mention elderly relatives, small businesses, and other responsibilities. My privilege has become so tangible during wartime.
CVF is finding ways to support those affected by the conflict. Some refugees who have been displaced by the war have relocated to Prey Touch commune, The children are attending public schools built by CVF. So far, Cambodian Village Fund has:
- Donated $2000 for essential supplies for refugees, such as tents, water bottles, and cooking supplies
- Opened up our English Language Program to refugees living with their families in Prey Touch commune
- Continued to look for more ways we can support the displaced peoples who are living in Battambang province
We will keep you posted on any additional updates about the conflict, our staff, and the communities we serve. We appreciate your ongoing support through this challenging time.
With gratitude,
Zion Dyson, Program Director, Cambodian Village Fund