In 2025, a long-standing territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand escalated into armed conflict along the border, with clashes in July killing both soldiers and civilians and displacing more than 134,000 people in Cambodia alone. Although an unconditional ceasefire was briefly agreed upon, fighting resumed in December, renewing violence and deepening instability for border communities.
This conflict, combined with existing challenges such as unemployment, food scarcity, and climate unpredictability, has left thousands of families in rural areas struggling to meet their most basic needs. Communities around Siem Reap have been particularly affected, where many households urgently require emergency relief to survive and recover.
Rural villages—including families living in floating communities on Tonle Sap Lake—are experiencing rising food insecurity. Many depend on subsistence fishing or small-scale farming, livelihoods that have become increasingly unreliable due to conflict, economic disruption, and erratic weather patterns.
In response to this crisis, WECO carried out four emergency relief food drops in 2025 with the support of local community workers Samuth Muon and Saven Ny, delivering life-saving assistance to families in need. While our work in Cambodia over the past two years has focused on investing in the future of Pong Ro’s youth through an after-school program serving 150 rural students, the growing humanitarian need has necessitated expanded action.
In 2026, WECO will continue holding regular food drops in the most food-insecure communities while sustaining our education programming for youth. To learn more about how you can support these food distributions, please reach out to a member of our team here.
