Cambodia (MNN) — China plays peacemaker in a bid to calm regional tensions as Trump-led efforts falter. Beijing also went on the defensive, denying claims that weapons produced by China were being used in the latest Cambodia-Thailand conflict.
Fighting increased along the Cambodia-Thailand border earlier this month, and clashes continue today, making it the deadliest bout in years. “Many people die. Many children run for their lives,” A3’s Country Director for Cambodia, Pastor Meng Aun Hour, says.
“Many, many people need to leave their homes and run for a safe place.”
More than half a million people have been displaced by the skirmish, which stems from long-standing territorial disputes. “Cambodia had a lot of temples along the border, and right now, Thailand claims that they belong to them. That’s why they want to fight,” Aun Hour explains.
“Cambodia had a lot of temples along the border, and right now, Thailand claims that they belong to them. That’s why they want to fight.”
(Photo courtesy of Neat chanmanith/Pexels)
Civilians flee as airstrikes intensify
Few Cambodians are unaffected by the clashes, especially those who live near the border with Thailand. “Everyone is having a hard time right now. Those living along the border just run for their life,” Aun Hour says.
“Children cannot go to school; normal people cannot go to the rice field. For example, right now is the time for harvesting rice from the field, but they cannot go to the field and harvest their crop because of the bombing,” he continues.
“F16s are bombing the school, hospital, and houses, especially the temple, the Buddhist temple.”
Cambodians are united in their support for their soldiers. “They try to do fundraising, collecting food, collecting donations, whatever they can give, they give to those who are at the front line,” Aun Hour says.
Even society’s most vulnerable are contributing. “Street children collect the garbage, and they sell it. They can get around 50 cents,” Aun Hour says.
“Normally, they use that money to buy their food, but this time, I saw them give that money away to support soldiers.”
(Photo courtesy of Engin_Akyurt/Pixabay)
Church leaders call for prayer, provide relief
Meanwhile, churches strive to meet the needs of newly displaced families. “We are encouraging A3 alumni to take a special offering in their churches, and we are collecting that,” Aun Hour says.
“We use it to buy [supplies], and we give it to 1,000 refugee families. We go and give them some rice, noodles, dry fish; things like that.”
Now that you know, how will you respond? “Pray for peace. That is number one. We really need it,” Aun Hour requests.
“We went through many difficulties in the past, like we went through the killing fields and the Civil War. We don’t want war anymore, we want peace.”
Secondly, “pray that needs will be met, especially for the refugee. We want to support them with food so that they can survive for a while.”
Pray that Cambodians who do not know Jesus will meet the Prince of Peace through this outreach.
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Gökhan Tahincioğlu/Pexels.
