Hi, we are Darlene and Dave. Social and community support workers based in Cambodia.
For the past two months, with the support of the Governor and Co-Governor of Svay Leu District ( see the official certificate provided below), Darlene has been coordinating urgent aid for families who fled shelling and gunfire near the border.
Working with local authorities and a strong volunteer team of commited locals and expats, we’ve already delivered:
Rice • Water • Hygiene items • Bedding • ⚕️ Basic medical care to hundreds of displaced families.
But here’s the truth ⬇️
⚠️ URGENT UPDATE — The Crisis Has Escalated
A recent ceasefire has collapsed, and airstrikes and artillery fire have resumed along the border. Civilians have again been killed and tens of thousands more are again fleeing for safety.
Families cannot go home — not for weeks… possibly not for years.
The dangers they face right now include:
• Contaminated water sources
• Unexploded ordnance
• ✖️ Shelling & gunfire — still ongoing
• Schools closed, childhoods on hold
• Trauma, fear & uncertainty
• Inability to harvest crops and loss of livelihoods.
Meanwhile, displaced populations in Svay Leu and Koh Ker continue to rise, and support remains scarce.
Update: 11:15 a.m: As of 8 a.m. on December 9, 2025, a total of 3,503 families or 11,136 people, including 5,782 women, have been evacuated to six displacement centers in Oddar Meanchey province, according to Met Measpheakdey, spokesperson for the province. This number will certainly rapidly rise as it takes a few days for those near the border to actually reach the safe areas where they can get support.
This is no longer a temporary emergency — it’s a deepening humanitarian crisis.
SMART Goals — Your Support in Action
Specific
We aim to provide the essentials to keep families fed, clean, and safe:
• Food & water for 150+ families (likely increasing as conflict spreads)
• Hygiene & bedding for those sleeping outdoors
• Play + learning kits for 200+ children
• Transport & storage so aid reaches remote camps
• Early psychological & emotional support for kids
Measurable
AUD $50 = 1 family fed for 1 week
AUD $100 = food + hygiene for a family for 2 weeks
AUD $500 = supports 10 families for a fortnight
GBP £25 = 1 family fed for 1 week
GBP $50 = food + hygiene for a family for 2 weeks
GBP £250 = supports 10 families for a fortnight.
Achievable
✨ Already in motion:
• Distribution networks set (village chiefs + district authorities)
• Transparent tracking + photos shared with supporters
• Local volunteers delivering aid directly to families
Realistic
Without urgent help, the risks grow:
️ Malnutrition
Illness
Trauma
Breakdown of community resilience
Timeframe
⚡ Phase One — Immediate food & hygiene
Phase Two — Nutrition + trauma-informed child support
Phase Three — Long-term rebuilding of homes and schools
Family Needs Assessments
Every family completes a simple assessment so support is fair and equitable.
➡️ Priority: families with young children, elderly carers, disabilities.
Why Your Support Matters
This isn’t just survival.
It’s dignity.
It’s resilience.
It’s giving children a chance to remain children.
Trauma doesn’t end when the bombs stop — sometimes that’s when it hits hardest.
Your donation =
️ Safety
Nutrition
Comfort
Connection
Hope for the future
How You Can Help
1️⃣ Donate what you can
2️⃣ Share this campaign widely
3️⃣ Stand with Cambodian families through this crisis
Every dollar/pound= direct impact.
Every share = more support for desperate families.
Many older people here experienced the horrific genocide suffered under the Khmer rouge. Help us to minimise the trauma and hunger the younger generation are facing with these current challenges.
Together, we can ensure they don’t face hunger, fear, and trauma alone. ❤️
Thanks for all who have donated before to this.
For those in Cambodia you can donate via the ABA code provided.
For those in Siem Reap who have physical donations we have a drop off point available from 4pm daily at the Mended Drum.