Bangkok: The Minister of Public Health condemned Cambodia’s attack on a hospital and innocent Thai people, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people, as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, as Minister of Public Health, condemned the attacks on Thai people. He said that he felt deeply angry and saddened by the inhumane attacks by Cambodian forces on the Phanom Dongrak 80th Anniversary Hospital in Surin Province and civilian areas in several other provinces along the border. Such actions not only threaten national sovereignty but also severely trample on human values.
According to Thai News Agency, the loss of life today (July 24, 2025, at 2:15 p.m.) is unacceptable. The attacks in several areas have affected 35 innocent civilians, 11 of whom died, and 8 of our brave soldiers were affected. The details of the losses in each area are as follows: In Surin Province, 2 civilians died (including an 8-year-old child), 1 seriously injured, 3 moderately injured, and 3 soldiers were seriously injured, 1 moderately injured, and 1 slightly injured. In Ubon Ratchathani Province, 1 civilian died, and 4 were seriously injured. In Sisaket Province, 8 civilians died (including a 15-year-old child), 3 seriously injured, 8 moderately injured, 4 slightly injured, and 1 soldier was killed and 2 slightly injured. In Buriram Province, 1 civilian was moderately injured.
The Ministry of Public Health condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on hospitals and the Thai people, which are serious violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, among which are innocent children. The abuse of children is a shameful and unforgivable act. Hospitals must always be safe spaces. Deliberately firing weapons at medical facilities is an act that crosses the line of humanity, as Article 18 of the Fourth Geneva Convention clearly states: ‘Civilian hospitals. shall not be attacked under any circumstances, but shall be respected and protected at all times by the belligerents.’
Cambodia’s actions this time are therefore considered serious violations and clearly constitute “war crimes”. Those who ordered and carried out these heinous acts must be held personally responsible. On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I would like to make the following strongest demands: 1. The Cambodian government must show responsibility and stop the actions immediately. 2. The Cambodian government must help compensate for all losses.
Reaffirming that the Ministry of Health’s highest desire is to stop this atrocities, we call on Cambodia to immediately end this war crime and return to respecting the principle of peaceful coexistence. And I would like to send my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and promise all Thai people that the Ministry of Public Health will mobilize all its forces to provide the best possible care for the injured, and the Thai government will do everything possible to protect the nation’s honor and demand justice for all Thai people.