Phnom Penh, 17 June 2026 — Supported by the Government and people of Japan, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) , in close partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia today officially launched a comprehensive, multi-sectoral initiative aimed at delivering urgent protection and resilience-building assistance to returning migrant workers and internally displaced persons caught in the wake of the recent border crisis.

The initiative, officially titled “Responding to Urgent Needs of Vulnerable Migrants and IDPs affected by Thailand-Cambodia border crisis and Building Resilience Against Future Shocks,” addresses the complex humanitarian and mobility situation that has developed since late May 2025. Border fluctuations and heightened security measures have triggered widespread internal displacement alongside the sudden return of nearly 900,000 migrant workers. These rapid population movements have severely strained local public services, community structure, disrupted cross-border commerce, and impacted household remittance income. In response, a total funding package of USD 1,322,446 has been committed via a partner country's supplementary budget framework to back a coordinated, 12-month UN intervention to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected and supported. 

The joint initiative aims to uphold the rights and dignity of returning migrants and communities at risk. It places a dedicated focus on women and girls, who face unique socio-economic vulnerabilities, protection gaps, and heightened risks of exploitation during transitional periods. 

• UNFPA Focuses on life-saving health support and gender-based protection services. UNFPA will distribute 5,000 dignity kits containing essential hygiene items to women and girls, provide delivery kits to targeted border health facilities experiencing high patient volumes, and expand sub-national capacities for survivor-centered counseling and referral service mapping.

• IOM Focuses on socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants, and expanding access to gender-responsive protection assistance for vulnerable migrants. IOM’s interventions include raising community awareness, rolling out recognition of prior learning (RPL) efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, expanding access to vocational training and job matching, providing support to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and delivering targeted, rights-based protection assistance to vulnerable migrants and survivors of trafficking. 

• UN Women Focuses on supporting returning women migrants and displaced women to lead safer, more inclusive recovery. UN Women will strengthen women's leadership in crisis response, recovery planning, and local decision-making, connecting women and girls to protection information, gender-responsive services, and referral pathways, including for those experiencing violence. Through Women Peer Networks, local dialogues, and digital platforms such as the My Journey Mobile APP and the GBV Safe app, the project will build women's livelihood, business, financial, and digital skills and support women-led action to prevent violence, trafficking, and exploitation, building the resilience of women and girls in transitional settings.

This project directly aligns with strategic bilateral frameworks focused on human resource development, improving business environments, and enhancing cross-border logistics. By easing localized unrest and preparing the workforce, the initiative contributes to stabilizing economic activities and securing local labor forces, which benefits public and private enterprise operations along the border. Furthermore, the project advances international commitments to gender equality, safe labor mobility, and the global "Women, Peace and Security" agenda. 

With the generous support of the Government and people of Japan, and implemented in close coordination with national line ministries, including the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Women's Affairs, the project ensures alignment with official national structures, including the National Committee for Counter Trafficking. By strengthening both institutional referral mechanisms and grassroots civil society networks, this joint initiative lays down a sustainable pathway toward long-term resilience against future migration shocks.

ABOUT UNFPA:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled, and everyone is safe and free from violence.

ABOUT IOM:

IOM is part of the United Nations System and is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing support to migrants across the world, developing effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration, and providing advice on migration policy and practice.

ABOUT UN WOMEN:

UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. We work with partners to advance women’s rights, strengthen laws and policies, and support services and social norms that enable women and girls to live free from discrimination and violence.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
 

Suzana Sorinchan, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist, UNFPA Cambodia, sorinchan@unfpa.org

Dmitriy Tsoy, Project Development and Reporting Officer, IOM Cambodia, dtsoy@iom.int 

Jocelyn Pederick, Communications Specialist, UN Women Cambodia, jocelyn.pederick@unwomen.org