BURIRAM, Aug 4 – Thai authorities are intensifying efforts to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO), including BM-21 rockets fired from Cambodia, in border communities affected by recent hostilities. The painstaking operation comes as officials simultaneously assess widespread damage to infrastructure and public services in the conflict zone.

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The 2nd Army Area Forward Command disclosed that Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams have successfully cleared 17 impacted sites, with 63 additional locations still requiring attention. While most rocket remnants in village areas have been recovered, authorities face mounting challenges in agricultural zones where farmers continue reporting unusual finds.

Chatchai Srisanok, Buriram’s Provincial Agricultural Officer, highlighted particular concerns about sugarcane fields, where dense foliage complicates visual detection of hidden explosives. “The use of heavy harvesting machinery could inadvertently detonate remaining ordnance,” he cautioned, urging extreme vigilance among farm workers during the upcoming harvest season.

UXO Clearance Continues Near Thai-Cambodian Border https://t.co/NW6Fax3wak @TNAMCOT pic.twitter.com/oOGcdnH8xX

— TNAMCOT English (@TNAMCOTEnglish) August 4, 2025

Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan confirmed the conflict has claimed 17 lives and left 38 injured since hostilities began. The violence has severely disrupted medical services across the region, with only 4 of 20 hospitals currently functioning at full capacity. Ten facilities are operating with limited services, while seven remain completely shuttered.

The crisis has equally impacted primary healthcare, with 149 Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) reporting disruptions. While 33 HPHs maintain normal operations and 11 offer partial services, a staggering 105 facilities remain non-operational, leaving many rural communities without basic medical care.

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Authorities report a gradual decline in displaced persons, with the number of shelter residents decreasing to 26,880. However, ongoing UXO risks continue to hinder full-scale return to affected villages, prolonging the humanitarian challenge along the restive border region.

-Thailand News (TN)