Thai / Cambodia Border Refugee Camps 1975-1999

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Khao I Dang / Site II / Site B / Site 8 / Sok San / Site K / O'Trao

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Site II / Site 2

Site II, the largest of the camps on the Thai / Cambodian border was a KPNLF administered Khmer refugee camp located 70Km north of Aranyaprathet on the border, the closest town was Taphraya, which was home for many NGO workers and the entry point to the KPNLF "Liberated Zones".

Site2-12.jpg (52465 bytes)
 Khmer new year was a favourite time for Dalang in Site II (61934 bytes)  Khmer arts in music and dance were passed from one generation to the next (34364 bytes)  Buddhist monks in Site 2 / Site II (47830 bytes)  Water truck - Site II / Site 2 (58410 bytes)

 Dalang

 A study in concentration

 Buddhist monks are an indispensable part of life

 Water always seemed to be an issue, too much or too little
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Kids (nice wheel chair!) A nice place to live A not so nice place to live After a fire
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Site II Sub-Camps

Site II consisted of many of the old KPNLF camps which had been overrun by Vietnamese offensives and the civilian populations brought together in one place. Each sub-camp had its own Khmer administration and these spent as much time squabbling amongst themselves as they did making sure they got their own fair share but little time looking after their people (perhaps I am too harsh).

Site II Sub-Camps

Site II - North

Ampil

Dang Rek

Nong Chan / Nam Yuen

Sanro

Site II South

Nong Samet / Rithysen

O'Bok
1989 Border Khmer Demographic Survey - includes camp descriptions

Background

See - 1989 Border Khmer Demographic Survey - includes camp descriptions

Site II was big, one could easily become lost wandering around it. It was so big that the Thais could not control it as they did the other camps. This was good and bad, it allowed more personal freedom and presented more opportunities but on the down side there was less law and order, justice often took the form of revenge with a gun or grenade. There were all types of businesses from restaurants where you could get a fresh lobster and a beer to machine shops that would fabricate parts for our printing presses, from tailors that would custom make a suit or uniform to jewelers designing unique pieces. On a darker side you could also buy antiquities stolen from archeological sites such as Angkor, this was a favoured activity between resistance commanders and Thais.

 

Programs

UNBRO was responsible for coordination of all matters relating to the provision of aid and assistance in the camps. They were directly responsible for food and water. All other support was provided by NGOs, either funded by the UN or privately.

 

ARC - Medical

COERR - Education and Social programs, unaccompanied minors and other shelters

CONCERN - Sanitation, Construction, Site maintenance

COR - MCH

HI

IRC - Special Ed and Printing

SIPAR - FSL

YWAM

 

Population

1989 - 145,000 (Border Khmer)

1991 - 198,582

 

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Last modified: 12/01/06