Cambodia's Humanitarian Crisis Amid Scam Compound Exodus
Youga, an African national, recently found accommodation at the Caritas shelter in Phnom Penh after escaping a scam compound in O’Smach, near the Thai border. He reported sleeping on the street for two days prior to reaching the shelter, aiming to conserve his remaining $100.
Overwhelmed Shelter Capacity
The Caritas shelter, which assists individuals escaping scam compounds and was previously U.S.-funded, is currently operating with reduced staff and budget. The facility is experiencing significant strain due to an increased number of individuals leaving scam compounds in Cambodia.
The shelter has had to decline assistance to over 300 individuals due to capacity limitations.
Mark Taylor, involved with human trafficking issues in Cambodia, described the situation as 'triage.' Last week, the shelter housed approximately 150 people, with many recent arrivals lacking basic necessities like pillows and blankets, according to Youga.
Surge in Departures from Scam Compounds
Cambodia is currently experiencing a significant increase in individuals departing from scam compounds. This follows the extradition of a suspected scam business leader to China in January. Online-based scam operations have become prevalent in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. These operations utilize infrastructure such as soundproofed phone booths, multilingual scripts, and simulated police booths. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights estimated up to 100,000 workers in Cambodian scam compounds in 2023.
Following international pressure from nations including South Korea, the U.S., and China, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet declared combating cyberfraud a political priority last month. The Cambodian government reported deporting 1,620 foreign nationals from 21 countries due to links with scam operations in January.
Humanitarian Fallout and Systemic Challenges
Mass releases from compounds have occurred recently, corroborated by 15 social media videos and images verified by Amnesty International. The organization interviewed 35 individuals who described difficult conditions during their departure, noting limited involvement from Cambodian authorities.
Amnesty International's regional research director, Montse Ferrer, stated that these departures have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with many survivors lacking state support.
Neth Pheaktra, Cambodia’s Minister of Information, stated that the government denies claims of failing trafficking victims and asserts that individuals are screened, and victims receive protection and assistance.
Rescuer Li Ling reported a list of 223 individuals, primarily from Uganda and Kenya, seeking assistance to return home after leaving Cambodian compounds. She and her partner have provided temporary shelter using personal funds but cannot sustain this support long-term. Some individuals have reportedly returned to the compounds to avoid homelessness.
Ling highlighted a systemic issue where international organizations direct victims to embassies, which in turn report a lack of clear procedures for assistance, creating a 'closed loop'.
Individuals seeking help reportedly waited at the Phnom Penh office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, but were informed the Caritas shelter was at full capacity. Youga, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stated he experienced physical abuse within a compound for refusing to work and escaped independently during the mass releases. The Associated Press observed messages of his requests for assistance to IOM, which declined to comment on specific cases.
Funding Cuts and a Restrictive Environment
Mark Taylor indicated that the Caritas shelter's immediate financial concern is its food budget. The shelter previously received $1.4 million from USAID, through its partner Winrock International, from September 2023 to early 2026. This funding ceased following the suspension of U.S. foreign assistance and the dismantling of USAID in early 2025. IOM, a partial funder of the shelter and also largely U.S.-funded, has also experienced budget reductions.
The Caritas shelter is reported as the sole organization in Cambodia accommodating victims of scam compounds, operating within a restrictive environment. Independent media outlets have closed, and a journalist known for reporting on scam compounds was arrested and detained. Jacob Daniel Sims, a Harvard University Asia Center visiting fellow with countertrafficking experience in Cambodia, noted the limited number of organizations addressing this issue due to the country's restrictive environment.
Rescuers indicate that individuals unable to access the shelter may face immigration detention and potential demands for bribes. Some are pooling funds to secure hotel rooms. Nationals with embassies in Cambodia, such as Indonesians and Filipinos, can receive assistance. Youga, a member of the Banyamulenge ethnic group which has been targeted by armed groups, cannot return to his home country and lacks regional embassy support.
Youga reported being lured to a Cambodian scam compound in November with an unsolicited job offer, despite not seeking employment. He stated that he was a university student and wishes to resume his studies, currently seeking a safe environment to reconstruct his life.