The death toll from the renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has climbed to at least 96, as fighting entered its 18th day on Thursday, deepening one of the most serious escalations between the two Southeast Asian neighbors in years.

According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense, Thai forces carried out artillery strikes early Thursday on a village in Banteay Meanchey province, killing at least one Cambodian civilian. The incident was reported by the state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse, which cited local authorities and security officials.

In a strongly worded response, Cambodia’s National Assembly issued a petition condemning what it described as Thailand’s “brutal and inhumane invasion,” calling on the international community to take note of what it said were repeated attacks on civilian areas.

Thailand, however, rejected the accusations and blamed Cambodia for the latest escalation. The Thai army said Cambodian forces fired BM-21 multiple rocket launchers into a village in Sa Kaeo province, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. The Nation Thailand reported that several homes and public facilities were damaged in the barrage.

Thai authorities said that 23 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed since the fighting resumed, while an additional 41 civilians died as what officials described as “collateral effects” of the conflict. On the Cambodian side, the Interior Ministry said at least 31 Cambodian civilians have been killed as a result of shelling and ground fighting.

The humanitarian impact of the clashes continues to worsen. Nearly one million people have been displaced on both sides of the border since hostilities flared up again on December 8. Cambodian officials said almost 610,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in border provinces, while Thai defense and foreign ministry sources said more than 150,000 people remain displaced in Thailand. Earlier army estimates had put the number of displaced Thais as high as 400,000.

Aid agencies operating in the region have warned of growing shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies in temporary shelters, as many displaced families face prolonged uncertainty amid ongoing shelling and troop movements.

Diplomatic and military efforts to de-escalate the crisis are continuing but remain fragile. Military talks between Thailand and Cambodia began on Wednesday in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, and are expected to continue through the week, according to the Thai Enquirer. The two sides are scheduled to hold a full General Border Committee meeting on Saturday, co-chaired by the defense ministers of both countries.

However, Bangkok has warned that it will not proceed with the meeting or sign any agreements if preliminary talks fail to produce consensus on key technical and security frameworks. Cambodian officials, meanwhile, have called for an immediate ceasefire and greater international mediation to prevent further civilian casualties.

The border dispute, rooted in long-standing disagreements over demarcation and sovereignty in several contested areas, has flared periodically over the past decades. Observers warn that without a sustained ceasefire and clear confidence-building measures, the current round of violence risks further destabilizing the region and exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis. (ILKHA)