European Union and UNICEF Deliver Life‑Saving Humanitarian Supplies to Children and Families Displaced by Border Crisis in Cambodia

Banteay Meanchey Province, 8 February 2026: H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, joined H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E. Oum Reatrey, Governor of Banteay Meanchey, and Dr. Anirban Chatterjee, UNICEF Deputy Representative, at Wat Kandoal site today to deliver over 30 tons of emergency supplies to displaced families. This joint mission highlights the EU’s response to the border crisis, supporting approximately 15,000 people—mostly women and children—across the provinces of Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, and Preah Vihear.

The supplies delivered include large tents and tarpaulins that serve as temporary learning and child-friendly spaces, ensuring that children can continue their education in a safe environment. The delivery also provides hygiene kits, solar lamps, and critical health and water (WASH) supplies to help families maintain health and dignity while living in displacement sites.

H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, stated: “Today, we are proud to deliver essential supplies through our partnership with UNICEF Cambodia, in addition to the mental health support being delivered by the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Cambodia (TPO) to address the psychological impact of armed conflict on displaced populations. The EU is committed to supporting Cambodia and partners in safeguarding the wellbeing and dignity of every displaced child and family.”

Dr. Anirban Chatterjee, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Cambodia, said: “We sincerely thank the European Union for supporting children and families during this crisis, enabling continued access to critical services and the chance to rebuild their future. This support will help ensure that young children keep learning, that families have safe water and hygiene, and that communities can maintain essential health and dignity as they navigate this challenging period.”

The European Union and UNICEF remain dedicated to ensuring that children and families have access to essential assistance while also supporting preparedness and recovery efforts for affected communities.

For photos of the event, download them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11E_8QAnvFAKy4fHrdjVjkRJFVRhuTUB_?usp=sharing (credits: © UNICEF Cambodia/2026/Seavhong Liv) 

###

About ReliefEU 

This operation was implemented through ReliefEU Capacities, a response tool of the  European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) department of the European Commission. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters around the world every year, providing assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

ReliefEU Capacities are humanitarian emergency response tools, designed to provide rapid but temporary support to partners in the humanitarian response where the humanitarian community struggles to provide timely assistance. ReliefEU capacities help thus to cover immediate needs of the affected population, to fill operational gaps, and to strengthen humanitarian access through the provision of safe and reliable transport, logistics and supply chain solutions, expertise and services.  

For more information, please contact:  

Ms. Phalkun Chan, Press and Information Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Cambodia

Email: [email protected]