A new report, released by World Vision on September 5, highlights the devastating impact of climate change-induced migration on children across Southeast Asia, with Cambodia emerging as a particularly hard-hit country. 

The study, conducted in partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), paints a troubling picture of the emotional, educational and social toll on children who are left behind when their parents are forced to migrate in response to worsening climate conditions.

“The climate crisis is one of the greatest forces shaping our world – both present and future. None of us is immune to this fact; however, the reality is most acutely felt by those families already living precariously close to the edge, just one drought or flood away from the tipping point,” said Terry Ferrari, regional leader of World Vision East Asia. 

She stressed that many families in Cambodia have no choice but to migrate in search of alternative livelihoods.

Cambodia's vulnerability to climate change is underscored by its ranking of 132 out of 192 countries on the ND-GAIN Country Index, which measures climate vulnerability and readiness​.

Ministry of Environment spokesman Khvay Atitya could not be reached today for comment on the effects of climate change.

“This research reveals a heart-breaking reality: climate change and migration are reshaping the lives of countless vulnerable children, many of whom are left to navigate the emotional and physical tolls of separation and instability,” said Sara Vigil, senior research fellow and global lead of SEI’s Migration and Mobility Programme.

Vigil was quoted in the report saying, “It is critical that we address the root causes of this distress and ensure that children are at the centre of efforts to create a safer, more secure future.” 

The impact on Cambodia’s children

Cambodia’s northwestern province of Battambang, particularly the Phnom Proek district, has been disproportionately affected by environmental changes. 

With two-thirds of workers employed in agriculture, the region has seen a surge in migration as families grapple with severe economic pressures. 

These pressures, according to the report, are exacerbated by climatic events like floods and droughts, which disrupt livelihoods and force parents to seek work either in Cambodia's urban centres or across the border in Thailand.

692,000 Cambodians were estimated to be living in Thailand as migrant workers by 2020. A significant portion of these migrations are irregular, complicating the exact count​. 

The report highlights that about 30 per cent of Cambodia’s population is under 15 years old, with another 17.1 percent aged 15-24, indicating a large number of young people are impacted by these migration patterns​.

As of 2021-2022, nearly 21 per cent of women aged 20–24 and 30 per cent of men in the same age group were internal migrants​.

“When the crops fail because of droughts, we can’t make enough money. My husband and I decided to migrate to Thailand to work on the farms there. It was hard leaving the children behind, but we had no choice,” said one migrant mother, who was interviewed in Phnom Proek. 

For many, migration is not a choice but a necessity, often driven by debt and the immediate need to provide for their children.

Through up-close looks at six rural villages in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, the report shows how a changing climate, including increasingly frequent torrential rains and floods, translates into hunger, missed school and anxiety over mounting debts.

The emotional toll on children left behind is severe. Many are cared for by grandparents, and some families struggle to make ends meet even with remittances from abroad. 

“I miss my parents a lot, and I have to help my grandmother with the household chores. I used to be able to go to school every day, but now I miss classes because I need to help more," shared a 12-year-old girl in Battambang.

The report details how Cambodian women, particularly those from rural and economically challenged backgrounds, often migrate to urban areas like Phnom Penh or across borders to Thailand for work. 

They are frequently employed in sectors such as construction, waste picking or casinos, reflecting the growing trend of feminisation of migration in Southeast Asia.

In cases where parents migrate, girls are more likely to take on caregiving duties for younger siblings or grandparents. 

This gendered division of labour can disrupt their education and force them into early adult responsibilities.

A young girl prepares her backpack for a trip to school. World Vision

Many Cambodian girls who migrate face irregular working conditions, with some resorting to precarious or illegal work in sectors like casinos. 

One 16-year-old girl, for instance, shared that she had migrated alone to work in a casino in Preah Sihanouk. 

She worked 12-18 hours a day, sending around $100 a month to her family after covering her expenses, but she also faced fear and uncertainty about her future​

Educational disruptions and increased responsibilities

The report notes that children in Cambodia, particularly in rural areas, experience disruptions to their education when their parents migrate. 

Cambodia has some of the highest disability rates in the world, reaching 57 per cent among those aged 60 and older, many of whom are grandparents left to care for children while their parents migrate for work​.

Floods, which make roads impassable, and a lack of support at home often force children to take on more household responsibilities. 

“Children are often separated from their parents, deprived of education, and exposed to exploitation," said Ferrari.

“Their well-being, their childhood, and their future hang in the balance.”

One grandmother shared the difficulty of managing her grandchildren alone: “I love them, but it’s hard for me to take care of them on my own. Sometimes we don’t have enough food, and I worry about their future.”

Khuon Vicheka, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, was unavailable for comment on the ministry’s efforts to support children whose parents work as migrants.

The education ministry has previously declared a focus on ensuring that children with migrant parents have access to education, even when facing challenging circumstances. 

At a March 2021 forum, the ministry, partner organisations and a network of children and youth groups noted that a significant issue for these children, especially those returning from neighbouring countries like Thailand, was the difficulty in integrating into the Cambodian school system. 

These challenges often arose due to language barriers or differences in educational curricula.

Pilot programmes were launched to teach Khmer to children in Thailand to help them continue their studies when they return to Cambodia. 

The programmes also involve local authorities in provinces like Battambang and Siem Reap, where migrant populations are significant. 

Additionally, the government’s Inclusive Education Action Plan 2024-2028 focuses on ensuring that all children, including those from disadvantaged or migrant backgrounds, have access to education.

Furthermore, NGOs such as Action Education are collaborating with the government to reach out to migrant and out-of-school children. 

These efforts aim to integrate over 100,000 children into the formal education system by 2025. 

A call for urgent action

As climate change continues to intensify, the World Vision report calls for urgent intervention to protect children affected by migration. 

As of 2020, there were an estimated 1.27 million international child migrants in Southeast Asia, with 40 per cent of them residing in Thailand. 

However, due to the prevalence of irregular migration, the actual number may be as high as 2.5 million.

“The findings underscore the urgent and undeniable need for inclusive climate and migration approaches to address the root causes of distress migration and the deep social and emotional scars it leaves on vulnerable children and those who care for them," said Niall O’Connor, SEI Asia Centre director.

The report recommends improving disaster preparedness and building resilient infrastructure to support vulnerable communities in Cambodia. 

It also calls for policies that address the unique needs of children left behind by migrating parents, including access to education, healthcare and psychological support.

“Every child deserves a safe, secure, and enabling environment in which to develop, yet the stories within this report paint a stark and unsettling picture,” O'Connor added. 

"Whether they stay behind or migrate, their well-being, their childhood and their future hang in the balance.”