Rapid Needs Assessment

30 September 2025

In late July 2025, escalating tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border triggered a rapid and large‑scale return of Cambodian migrant workers—reportedly more than 900,000 people within weeks. Unlike the COVID‑19 period, this return occurred in an atmosphere of fear, driven by harassment, unpredictable border closures, and widespread insecurity among Cambodian workers in Thailand.

CENTRAL conducted this Rapid Needs Assessment to understand the immediate humanitarian needs, financial pressures, and migration intentions of returnees. Findings inform CENTRAL’s response planning, guide advocacy with government and donors, and support coordinated interventions to prevent further crises such as debt distress, unemployment, and unsafe migration. The assessment draws on 815 interviews across eight provinces, complemented by qualitative interviews, field observations, and consultations with authorities and migrant networks.

Results show severe food insecurity, heavy debt burdens, widespread unemployment or underemployment, and limited assistance reaching returned households. While many returnees expressed a willingness to remain in Cambodia if stable jobs were available, ongoing economic stress and lack of support increase the risk of re‑migration through unsafe channels.

Province‑Specific Findings

Although food insecurity, unemployment, and the need for cash support were common across all provinces, the assessment revealed important geographic differences:

• Banteay Meanchey, the largest sample, showed the highest combined food and employment needs. Larger households and high debt burdens heightened vulnerability.
• Kampong Thom had a notably younger returnee population (15–25), mostly single and prioritising immediate employment over food aid—highlighting the need for youth‑focused job creation.
• Preah Vihear respondents were generally older, with larger or multi‑generational households, making food insecurity the dominant concern.
• Oddar Meanchey and Battambang returnees—largely agricultural or construction workers—faced high debt from return‑travel costs and significant job shortages.
• Siem Reap respondents were mainly women returning from domestic and informal work in Thailand, with needs centred on food, cash, and local job opportunities.
• Koh Kong, surveyed separately, included many women previously employed in seafood‑processing and caregiving sectors, signalling gender‑specific vulnerabilities and a strong need for safe local employment.
• Pailin had the smallest sample but showed similar patterns to other border provinces.

These patterns emphasize that while food assistance is universally needed, livelihood recovery must be tailored by province—with youth employment in Kampong Thom, larger‑household support in Preah Vihear and Banteay Meanchey, and gender‑responsive programming in Koh Kong and Siem Reap.

Emerging Implications

The assessment highlights the need for a dual‑track response:

1. Immediate relief—primarily food assistance and urgent cash support; and
2. Long‑term livelihood recovery—job creation, debt‑relief measures, and targeted economic interventions.

Households most undecided about re‑migration are those lacking food and cash, underscoring the importance of timely support to prevent unsafe movement. Younger returnees, particularly in Kampong Thom, face high re‑migration risks without credible local employment pathways. Larger households in Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear require expanded food and debt‑relief support, while women‑majority return patterns in Koh Kong and Siem Reap call for safe, accessible employment options.

The combination of debt, unemployment, closed borders, and lack of social protection creates a heightened risk environment for trafficking and recruitment into scam operations. Strengthened prevention and protection measures are urgently needed.

Conclusion

This assessment provides one of the earliest and most comprehensive snapshots of the humanitarian and economic conditions facing Cambodian workers who returned during the 2025 border crisis. Across 815 interviews, a consistent picture emerges: returnees are predominantly working‑age adults supporting mid‑sized households, struggling with food insecurity, income loss, and growing debt.

While most wish to remain in Cambodia if decent jobs are available, the absence of assistance and limited legal migration channels increase the likelihood of unsafe re‑migration. Tailored, province‑specific interventions—combining immediate relief with long-term livelihood support—will be essential to prevent worsening hardship and exploitation. CENTRAL urges coordinated action among government, humanitarian actors, and donors to address the evolving needs of returnees and support their safe, stable reintegration.