Thailand to sue Cambodia over border clash hospital damage

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has announced plans to pursue both civil and criminal legal action against Cambodia over extensive damage to healthcare infrastructure caused during recent military clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border.

The damages are currently estimated at approximately 146 million baht ($4.1 million), Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The initiative follows a directive from Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, instructing all relevant ministries to assess losses sustained during the hostilities in preparation for formal legal proceedings.

Minister Somsak reported that Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin province sustained the most significant damage, estimated at 46 million baht ($1.3 million). The total estimated losses encompass structural damage, destroyed equipment, and disruptions to critical healthcare services.

“A lawsuit will be filed against those responsible,” Mr. Somsak stated, without disclosing specific individuals or entities named in the forthcoming legal actions.

His comments came on the eve of the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting set to take place in Kuala Lumpur. The outcome of this diplomatic engagement may determine whether displaced residents will be permitted to return home. Medical response teams are on standby in anticipation of a possible repatriation of affected populations.

Out of the 20 hospitals impacted by the conflict, five have fully resumed operations, while 12 are only partially functional and three remain closed. Among 149 tambon-level health-promotion hospitals, 37 have reopened completely, 31 are operating at limited capacity, and 81 remain shut.

Mental health services have also been mobilized across the affected zones. Psychological screening has been conducted for 79,326 individuals, with 4,452 diagnosed with high levels of stress and 492 identified as at risk of suicide.

Minister Somsak also addressed new policy measures aimed at supporting the families of military personnel and border police who were killed or injured in the conflict. Educational quotas and healthcare privileges are expected to be extended to spouses, children, and siblings of the victims.

“Further details will be announced regarding eligibility and access to national healthcare programs,” he said.

In response to deteriorating air quality in the conflict zones, the Health Department has distributed 3,000 N95 masks to troops stationed at the border. Additionally, odour-mitigation sprays may be supplied to improve conditions in temporary shelters and operational camps.

Deputy Education Minister Linthiphon Warinwatcharoj confirmed that schools located in high-risk border areas will remain closed until the security situation stabilizes. Reopening will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on safety assessments.

She added that the Ministry of Education will coordinate with the Public Health Ministry and Chulalongkorn University to implement a mental health recovery program for children affected by the conflict.

The escalation in legal, medical, and educational responses signals a broader effort by the Thai government to address both the immediate humanitarian consequences and the long-term political ramifications of the ongoing border dispute with Cambodia.

By Vafa Guliyeva