Thousands of families on both sides of the disputed Thailand-Cambodia border have fled as a bitter new conflict erupts between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, though many others have had no choice but to remain in the crossfire.
In Thailand’s Buriram province, village head and security guard Wuttikrai Chimngarm crouched behind a makeshift bunker built from six layers of tires, bracing as relentless shelling rattled the borderlands.
“I have to stay behind. I’m the head of the village – if not me, then who? Who will safeguard the villagers’ houses and belongings from looters? I’m the leader, and all the village security guards have to stick together,” he said.
Hundreds of thousands of people have moved into temporary shelters since fighting resumed Monday, breaking a fragile truce brokered by President Donald Trump in July.
Wuttikrai said he was concerned the shelters could also be targeted.
