UNESCO Rejects Claim It Denied Funding for Repairs to Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple
UNESCO has not ruled out funding repairs to Cambodia’s World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear Temple, contradicting a claim circulating on social media that the UN cultural body refused assistance after determining the site had been used for military purposes.
The false claim surfaced in late January, nearly a month after a December 2025 truce ended the latest round of deadly fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border.
In a written response to AFP, a UNESCO spokesperson said the organisation has not reached any conclusions on whether the temple was used for military activity and has not made any decision regarding funding, repairs or technical assistance.
Viral Claim Spreads After Border Fighting
An image shared on X on January 24 shows a UNESCO logo over a photograph of a damaged site, accompanied by Thai-language text reading, “Shattered dreams for Cambodia.”
The post claimed UNESCO had refused to pay for reparations at Preah Vihear Temple because it had allegedly been used as a military base, and that the site was at risk of being removed from the World Heritage List.
Similar assertions appeared in a YouTube news report published on January 26 and spread across Facebook, TikTok and other platforms.
UNESCO: No Decision on Funding or Delisting
UNESCO rejected the claim, saying no penalties had been imposed on Cambodia and no formal determination had been made about the circumstances surrounding the damage.
“No decision has been made regarding funding, repair or technical assistance for the site’s conservation at this time,” a UNESCO spokesperson told AFP on January 26.
The spokesperson added that UNESCO would conduct an assessment of the temple at the request of Cambodian authorities, once security conditions permit.
Regarding delisting, the organisation said the matter has not been brought before the World Heritage Committee.
“Delisting is a last resort,” the spokesperson said, noting that the case has not been formally reviewed by the committee.
Under UNESCO’s operational guidelines, a site can only be removed from the World Heritage List following a formal review process and approval by a majority of committee members.
Rare and Exceptional Measure
In a follow-up response on January 27, UNESCO said delisting occurs only when a site’s “outstanding universal value” has been irretrievably lost.
UNESCO has removed just three sites from its World Heritage List to date. The most recent case occurred in 2021, when Liverpool’s historic waterfront was delisted following large-scale redevelopment projects that altered its character.
Longstanding Dispute, Renewed Violence
Preah Vihear, an 11th-century Hindu temple perched on a cliff along the Thai-Cambodian border, has long been a point of contention between the two neighbours.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2013 that the land surrounding the temple belongs to Cambodia. UNESCO also lists the site under Cambodia on its official World Heritage register.
Renewed fighting erupted in December 2025, with artillery exchanges killing dozens and forcing more than half a million people to flee border areas. UNESCO issued a statement on December 10 expressing concern over the clashes and calling for urgent protection of the temple.
Both sides agreed to a truce on December 27, ending the latest round of violence.
Competing Claims Over Damage
Thailand’s military has alleged, citing photographic and video evidence, that Cambodian forces used the temple site for military purposes during the fighting.
Cambodia, however, has submitted a report to UNESCO stating that Preah Vihear sustained damage from repeated shelling and aerial bombardment that it said directly targeted the site, according to Cambodian media reports.
UNESCO has said it will assess the situation once conditions allow, but stressed that no conclusions have been drawn.
AFP has previously debunked other pieces of misinformation circulating in connection with the Thai-Cambodian conflict.
