Phnom Penh: A representative of UNESCO, which is responsible for the maintenance of Cambodia’s tangible and intangible heritage, pledged before Acting Head of State Samdech Techo Hun Sen that he would make every effort to restore Cambodia’s heritage sites that were severely damaged by the Thai military.
Leader of the Senate, Chea Thirith, said after the meeting between Samdech Techo and Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, on the morning of April 30, 2026, that Samdech Techo mentioned that Cambodian heritage sites that were included in the World Heritage List, such as the Preah Vihear Temple, were destroyed by the Thai military during the Thai invasion of Cambodia in late 2025.
Regarding this destruction, the UNESCO Representative to Cambodia expressed deep regret and sorrow, especially the Preah Vihear Temple, which was damaged by the Thai military. He stressed that he will work hard to work with relevant Cambodian institutions to repair and restore the heritage properties damaged by the destruction by the Thai military.
Please note that during the Thai invasion, the Thai military fired twice on the Preah Vihear temple, damaging the architectural structure, which was in its original state. of the temple was severely damaged. The first Thai shelling of Preah Vihear Temple on July 24-28, 2025, included 142 temple buildings and 42 surrounding areas, including Wat Keo Sikh Kiriswara, public infrastructure, and the Preah Vihear National Authority’s conservation office building. The second time, from December 7-27, 2025, almost all the main architecture of the temple, from Gopura 1 to Gopura 5, including all connecting bridges and the ancient northern staircase, was severely damaged.
