THE EARLY YEARS
In the beginning of 1991 I decided to move from the refugee camps in Thailand to Cambodia, but Sisophon was still in a war zone. I was going to start the MSF Holland-Belgium project in Banteay Meanchey province on the 1st of April (no joke), but was put on stand-by for 3 months in Site B refugee camp, as Sisophon was still bombed.
By now almost forgotten, but at the time there were all around Sisophon camps with Internally Displaced People (IDP) from the fighting, as there were frequent clashes with all four factions having area under their control in Banteay Meanchey province. Hereunder a panorama view of one of the camps, called Kang Wa.
In the beginning of 1991 I decided to move from the refugee camps in Thailand to Cambodia, but Sisophon was still in a war zone. I was going to start the MSF Holland-Belgium project in Banteay Meanchey province on the 1st of April (no joke), but was put on stand-by for 3 months in Site B refugee camp, as Sisophon was still bombed.
By now almost forgotten, but at the time there were all around Sisophon camps with Internally Displaced People (IDP) from the fighting, as there were frequent clashes with all four factions having area under their control in Banteay Meanchey province. Hereunder a panorama view of one of the camps, called Kang Wa.
Camp with internally displaced families just north-west of Sisophon's main market (the light roofs at the right top of the photo)
Life in the IDP camps was muddy, sometimes very muddy. One can only admire the people living in them like it was normal.
Trying to get the bike home through the sticky mud
The foot of the IDP Camp Leader during discussions to prepare a vaccination campaign
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No fun playing in the mud any more
Afraid of the Barang?
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There was curfew at night, the main roads into the city were mined for the night and guarded with tanks. In the daytime the streets showed everywhere army green and besides the moto's, small horse-carts and buses used by the population (and the soldiers), military vehicles filled the roads.
I was pondering to show especially the photos of the early years in black & white, but that would not show the ubiquitous army green.
A 'bus' being loaded to go to Siem Reap, military would take them as well, to get to their units along the road
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A 'bus' preparing to leave for Chvay Check to the North of Sisophon
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Military reinforcing a bridge temporarily to pass their truck
'Heavy traffic' on the bridge just outside Sisophon to Poipet
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Military truck in Sisophon
Guarding the bridge
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The Mittapheap Cinema in Siem Reap, on the spot of present-day Canadia Bank
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