U.S. to provide USD45 mil support for Cambodia-Thailand peace efforts

KUALA LUMPUR: The U.S. will provide USD45 million in assistance to Cambodia and Thailand as part of sustained peace efforts, amid a fragile ceasefire along the border of the two countries.

Michael George DeSombre, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said details on the allocations remain under discussion, pending consultations with officials from Cambodia and Thailand.

“The U.S. will continue to support the Cambodian and Thai governments, as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity and stability for their people and the region,” he said in a digital media briefing today.

Of the total, USD15 million will be channelled towards border stabilisation and aid for communities displaced by the border clashes, the latest of which ended when both countries agreed to a new ceasefire on December 27.

Clashes last month had killed over 100 people and left half a million displaced.

A further USD10 million will fund demining operations, while the remaining USD20 million will support initiatives to combat scam operations and drug trafficking, among other related programmes.

DeSombre said the U.S. was “optimistic” that ASEAN’s multilateral observer mechanism would help preserve lasting peace.

He is currently in Bangkok to meet with senior Thai officials and is scheduled to travel to Phnom Penh tomorrow to further discuss the implantation of the Peace Accords.