Latest news with #Thidarat
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Thailand-Cambodian clashes force 100,000 into Thai shelters
Desperate evacuees, huddled on plastic mats in a sports hall in Thailand, have described fleeing from thunderous artillery bombardments as heavy fighting has escalated between Thailand and Cambodia. The worst fighting in more than a decade between the neighbouring countries has forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate from their homes across four Thai border provinces by Friday. As artillery fire echoed on Thursday, thousands from northeastern Surin province abandoned their homes for makeshift shelters established in the town centre. Nearly 3,000 people crowded the sports hall of Surindra Rajabhat University, packed onto rows of plastic mats covered with colourful blankets and hastily gathered possessions. 'I'm worried about our home, our animals, and the crops we've worked so hard on,' Thidarat Homhuan, 37, told the AFP news agency. She evacuated with nine family members, including her 87-year-old grandmother who had just been released from hospital. 'That concern is still there. But being here does feel safer, since we're further from the danger zone now. At least we're safe,' she said. Thidarat was babysitting at a local school when she heard what she described as 'something like machinegun fire', followed by heavy artillery thuds. 'It was chaos. The kids were terrified. I rushed to the school's bunker,' she said. Inside the shelter, evacuees slept alongside one another beneath the gym's high ceiling, surrounded by electric fans humming and the quiet whispers of uncertainty. Elderly residents lay wrapped in blankets, infants slept in cradles, while children played quietly. Pet cats rested in mesh crates near the public restroom. This marks the first full activation of the university as a shelter, according to Chai Samoraphum, director of the university president's office. Classes were immediately cancelled, and within an hour, the campus transformed into a functioning evacuation centre. Evacuees from four border districts were distributed across six locations throughout the campus. 'Most of them left in a hurry. Some have chronic health conditions but didn't bring their medications, others only managed to grab a few belongings,' Chai told AFP. The centre, with assistance from the provincial hospital, is providing care for those with chronic illnesses and offering mental health services for trauma victims, Chai explained. The border fighting has killed at least 14 people in Thailand, including one soldier and civilians killed in a rocket strike near a Sisaket province petrol station, officials reported. One Cambodian has also been confirmed killed. As fighting continues near the border, evacuees face uncertainty about when they can return home. For now, the shelter provides safety and a place to await signals that it's safe to 'go back to normal life', Thidarat said. She already has a message for the authorities: 'I want the government to take decisive action – do not wait until lives are lost. 'Civilians look up to the government for protection, and we rely on them deeply,' she said. Across the border in Cambodia, about 20,000 residents have evacuated from the country's northern border with Thailand, the Khmer Times news organisation said, quoting officials in Cambodia's Preah Vihear province.
France 24
5 days ago
- General
- France 24
Fear and relief in Thai shelter as Cambodia clashes rage
More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in four Thai border provinces amid the worst fighting between the two neighbours in over a decade. As artillery fire thundered on Thursday, thousands of people in northeastern Surin province fled their homes and sought refuge in makeshift shelters set up in the town centre. In the sports hall of Surindra Rajabhat University, nearly 3,000 people were packed tight on rows of plastic mats, scattered with colourful blankets and hastily packed personal belongings. "I'm worried about our home, our animals, and the crops we've worked so hard on," Thidarat Homhuan, 37, told AFP. She fled with nine other family members, including her 87-year-old grandmother who had just been discharged from hospital. "That concern is still there. But being here does feel safer, since we're further from the danger zone now. At least we're safe," she said. Thidarat was babysitting for a teacher at a local school when she heard what she described as "something like machine gun fire", followed by the heavy thud of artillery. "It was chaos. The kids were terrified. I rushed to the school's bunker," she said. Inside the shelter, evacuees slept side by side beneath the gym's high roof, surrounded by the hum of electric fans and quiet murmurs of uncertainty. The elderly lay bundled in blankets, babies dozed in cradles while youngsters played quietly. Pet cats rested in mesh pop-up crates near the public restroom. 'Worse than 2011' It is the first time the university has been fully activated as a shelter site, said Chai Samoraphum, director of the university's president's office. Classes were abruptly cancelled, and within an hour, the campus was converted into a functioning evacuation centre. Thousands of evacuees from four districts next to the border were placed into six locations across the campus. "Most of them left in a hurry. Some have chronic health conditions but didn't bring their medications, others only managed to grab a few belongings," Chai told AFP. With help from the provincial hospital, the centre is also caring for people with chronic illnesses and providing mental health services for those struggling with trauma, Chai said. Border clashes between the two nations have left at least 14 people dead in Thailand, officials said, including one soldier and civilians caught in a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province. Thidarat said the current conflict feels more severe than the last major clashes in 2011. "It wasn't this serious back then. People's houses weren't damaged like this. There were no announcements about civilians being injured," Thidarat said. "This year is much worse -- the number of deaths and injuries is really devastating." As clashes go on near the border, there is no clear timeline for when people can return home. For now, the shelter provides a sense of safety -- and a place to wait for a sign that it's safe to "go back to normal life," Thidarat said. She already had a message for those in power: "I want the government to take decisive action -- don't wait until lives are lost." "Civilians look up to (the government) for protection, and we rely on them deeply," she said.
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Fear And Relief In Thai Shelter As Cambodia Clashes Rage
Sitting on plastic mats in a sports hall, desperate evacuees told AFP of fleeing in terror from thunderous artillery bombardments as Thailand and Cambodia clash. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in four Thai border provinces amid the worst fighting between the two neighbours in over a decade. As artillery fire thundered on Thursday, thousands of people in northeastern Surin province fled their homes and sought refuge in makeshift shelters set up in the town centre. In the sports hall of Surindra Rajabhat University, nearly 3,000 people were packed tight on rows of plastic mats, scattered with colourful blankets and hastily packed personal belongings. "I'm worried about our home, our animals, and the crops we've worked so hard on," Thidarat Homhuan, 37, told AFP. She fled with nine other family members, including her 87-year-old grandmother who had just been discharged from hospital. "That concern is still there. But being here does feel safer, since we're further from the danger zone now. At least we're safe," she said. Thidarat was babysitting for a teacher at a local school when she heard what she described as "something like machine gun fire", followed by the heavy thud of artillery. "It was chaos. The kids were terrified. I rushed to the school's bunker," she said. Inside the shelter, evacuees slept side by side beneath the gym's high roof, surrounded by the hum of electric fans and quiet murmurs of uncertainty. The elderly lay bundled in blankets, babies dozed in cradles while youngsters played quietly. Pet cats rested in mesh pop-up crates near the public restroom. It is the first time the university has been fully activated as a shelter site, said Chai Samoraphum, director of the university's president's office. Classes were abruptly cancelled, and within an hour, the campus was converted into a functioning evacuation centre. Thousands of evacuees from four districts next to the border were placed into six locations across the campus. "Most of them left in a hurry. Some have chronic health conditions but didn't bring their medications, others only managed to grab a few belongings," Chai told AFP. With help from the provincial hospital, the centre is also caring for people with chronic illnesses and providing mental health services for those struggling with trauma, Chai said. Border clashes between the two nations have left at least 14 people dead in Thailand, officials said, including one soldier and civilians caught in a rocket strike near a petrol station in Sisaket province. Thidarat said the current conflict feels more severe than the last major clashes in 2011. "It wasn't this serious back then. People's houses weren't damaged like this. There were no announcements about civilians being injured," Thidarat said. "This year is much worse -- the number of deaths and injuries is really devastating." As clashes go on near the border, there is no clear timeline for when people can return home. For now, the shelter provides a sense of safety -- and a place to wait for a sign that it's safe to "go back to normal life," Thidarat said. She already had a message for those in power: "I want the government to take decisive action -- don't wait until lives are lost." "Civilians look up to (the government) for protection, and we rely on them deeply," she said. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in four Thai border provinces amid the worst fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in over a decade AFP Evacuees slept side by side beneath the gym's high roof, surrounded by the hum of electric fans and quiet murmurs of uncertainty AFP
