One year after armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border forced him to flee twice, O’Smach dentist Bun Thun says fear of war has been replaced by a more pressing concern: economic survival.
The owner of a dental clinic in O’Smach New Market recalls the chaos of evacuation, but today the struggle is earning enough to keep his practice open. The area, still bearing scars of the conflict, has seen a slow return of customers.
‘I used to worry about bombs and gunfire,’ Bun Thun said. ‘Now, I worry about bills and whether people can afford treatment.’
Local authorities acknowledge the economic impact, but recovery remains uneven. For Bun Thun and many others, the conflict may have ended, but the battle for financial stability continues.
Article source: phnompenhpost.com | Image credit: Phnom Penh Post
