Cambodia: Bishop Urges Faithful to Aid Displaced Families Amid Renewed Border Conflict

In a message published on his personal social media account on December 11, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, urged all parishes in his jurisdiction to organize Masses and prayer services for peace, following the renewed conflict along the Cambodia–Thailand border.

The Bishop emphasized that, in this tense situation, prayer for peace must continue without ceasing.

“I invite parishes in all areas to organize Masses and prayer services for peace, especially during this Advent season, as we await the coming of Jesus, the Lord of Peace,” he wrote.

He further reported that the bishops of both Cambodia and Thailand have prepared an appeal calling for an immediate ceasefire, which is awaiting final authorization from the Bishop of Thailand before being issued publicly.

Concurrently, the Bishop called on the faithful to contribute generously to initiatives supporting displaced brothers and sisters along the border.

At present, Bishop Schmitthaeusler is visiting Siem Reap Province, where he stopped at Wat Bo (Reach Bo Pagoda). He offered official assistance on behalf of the Catholic Church in Cambodia to Samdech Preah Prom Ratanamuni Pin Sem Sereysuvanno, the chief monk of Wat Reach Bo, in support of efforts to aid the displaced people.

Since December 7, the border area between Cambodia and Thailand, stretching over 500 kilometers, has been subjected to repeated heavy artillery shelling, forcing thousands of Cambodian civilians to flee to safer areas.

According to the Ministry of National Defence of Cambodia, as of December 11, the conflict has resulted in 10 civilian deaths, including one infant, 60 wounded, and 55,743 displaced families, totaling 192,173 people.