Japan, Cambodia and WFP launch USD $1.5M recovery project for families affected by border conflict

Japan’s USD $1.5 million contribution will fund WFP’s Project for Livelihoods Recovery and Nutritional Fortification in Communities Affected by the Border Conflict in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The project aims to help vulnerable households rebuild their livelihoods, improve dietary diversity, and strengthen community resilience after the crisis.

The July and December 2025 clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border displaced more than 600,000 people, while an additional 900,000 migrant workers returned from Thailand, straining essential services. Communities in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces continue to face damage roads, destroyed agricultural systems, disrupted incomes and rising food insecurity.

Over the next 12 months, WFP will implement a nutrition‑sensitive Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) program that provides fortified rice and cash vouchers to food‑insecure families. In exchange, participating households will rehabilitate essential community assets such as roads, irrigation canals, water systems, and agricultural infrastructure, which are critical for long‑term recovery and local economic stability.

The project will directly support 1,500 households, benefiting more than 6,000 people, while thousands more will gain from restored community assets. Priority will be given to displaced families, returnee migrants, women, children, and nutritionally at‑risk groups.

Leaders highlight Partnership, Stability and Resilience

His excellency UENO Atsushi, Japan’s ambassador to Cambodia, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Cambodia’s recovery efforts: “Through our partnership with WFP, I sincerely hope that this project, which links food assistance with livelihood recovery, will serve as a solid foundation that the affected communities need to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives.

WFP Representative and Country Director in Cambodia, Kyungnan Park, emphasized the integrated nature of the project: “This project brings together food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and community rehabilitation. By combining immediate assistance with community-led recovery, we are supporting families to rebuild their lives while laying the foundation for local economic development and long-term stability in Cambodia’s border provinces.”

Senior Minister and first vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, KUN Kim, reaffirmed the government’s coordination and preparedness: “The Royal Government of Cambodia welcomes this timely support from Japan and WFP. Strengthening community infrastructure and local capacities is essential not only for recovery today, but also for preparedness against future shocks.”

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About WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. Read more about WFP’s work in Cambodia.

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