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Shelter Crisis Grows as Victims Flee Cambodia’s Scam Compounds
One recent night, Youga was grateful when he finally slept in a bed, even though it had neither pillow nor blanket.
For two days, the African man had slept on the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, after escaping from a scam compound in O’Smach near the Thai border. With only $100 left to his name, he wanted to save what little money he had. The Caritas shelter took him in, providing a rare haven in an escalating humanitarian crisis.
The shelter, the only facility in Cambodia that helps victims fleeing from scam compounds, previously received funding from the United States. Today, it operates with just a third of its former staff and a fraction of its previous budget as Cambodia faces an unprecedented surge of workers fleeing exploitative operations.
“It’s become triage,” said Mark Taylor, who works on human trafficking issues in Cambodia.
As of last week, the shelter housed about 150 people. Many recent arrivals sleep in a common room with nothing more than the clothes they’re wearing. The shelter lacks even basic necessities like pillows and blankets for everyone, said Youga, who spoke on condition that only his first name be used out of fear of retaliation from his former captors.
Mass Exodus Following Crackdown
Cambodia is experiencing an unprecedented flood of workers escaping scam compounds following a crackdown. The exodus began weeks after Cambodian authorities extradited a suspected kingpin of the scam business to China in January, a figure who had previously enjoyed a prominent role in Cambodian society.
Online scam operations have become endemic across Southeast Asia in recent years, particularly in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. These sophisticated operations feature phone booths lined with soundproofing foam, multilingual scripts for operatives, and even fake police stations purporting to represent countries from Brazil to China. In 2023, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights estimated Cambodia alone housed up to 100,000 scam workers.
After mounting international pressure from South Korea, the United States, and China, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced last month that “combating crime is a deliberate political priority,” specifically targeting cyberfraud. The Cambodian government reported deporting 1,620 foreign nationals from 21 countries linked to scam operations in January alone.
Compounds have begun releasing workers en masse, according to evidence verified by Amnesty International, which analyzed 15 videos and images from social media and interviewed 35 victims. The organization described a “chaotic and dangerous” situation, though many noted limited involvement from Cambodian authorities in facilitating the exodus.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding
“The departures from scamming compounds have created a humanitarian crisis on the streets that is being ignored by the Cambodian government. In scenes of chaos and suffering, thousands of traumatized survivors are being left to fend for themselves with no state support,” said Montse Ferrer, regional research director for Amnesty International.
The Cambodian government rejected these allegations. “The Royal Government of Cambodia rejects claims that it is failing trafficking victims or tolerating abuse linked to scam compounds,” said Information Minister Neth Pheaktra. “All individuals are screened to separate victims from perpetrators, with victims receiving protection, shelter, medical care, and assistance for safe return.”
On the ground, the reality appears different. Li Ling, a volunteer rescuer, maintains a list of 223 people, predominantly from Uganda and Kenya, who have escaped compounds and now need assistance returning home. She and her partner have spent at least $1,000 of their own money to shelter the most desperate cases but cannot continue beyond another week.
Some former victims have already returned to work in the compounds rather than face homelessness, Li noted.
“When international organizations based in Cambodia continue telling victims to go to their embassies, but the embassies frankly admit they don’t have a clear process, responsibility gets shoved back and forth, creating a closed loop with no exit,” she explained. “This is not a one-off failure, but a systemic breakdown.”
Shelter Funding Crisis
The Caritas shelter has been forced to turn away more than 300 people in need. Many victims have waited for hours outside the Phnom Penh office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, only to be told the shelter is full.
Taylor said the shelter’s most immediate concern is funding for food. “It’s hand to mouth,” he explained.
Previously, the shelter received financial support from Winrock International, USAID’s partner in Cambodia. It was slated to receive $1.4 million from USAID from September 2023 through early 2026, but this funding disappeared after U.S. foreign assistance was suspended and USAID was dismantled in early 2025. The shelter was also partially funded by IOM, which likewise relied heavily on U.S. support.
Although numerous anti-trafficking organizations are registered in Cambodia, the Caritas shelter is the only one accepting victims from scam compounds in an increasingly repressive environment. Independent media have shut down under government pressure, and a prominent journalist known for reporting on scam compounds was recently arrested and detained for a month.
“Given the deeply repressive environment in Cambodia that emerges from the scam industry’s role as a dominant source of ruling party elite rent seeking, there are an extremely small number of formal organizations willing to respond to the issue on the ground,” said Jacob Daniel Sims, a visiting fellow at the Harvard University Asia Center who has worked in countertrafficking in Cambodia.
Limited Options for Victims
Rescuers report that victims unable to reach the shelter often end up in immigration detention, vulnerable to bribes from officials. Those with financial resources sometimes pool funds to book hotel rooms. Nationals from countries with embassies in Cambodia, such as Indonesia or the Philippines, can access consular assistance.
For Youga, returning home isn’t an option. He belongs to the Banyamulenge ethnic group, which has been targeted by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also lacks an embassy in the region to assist him.
Youga was lured into a Cambodian scam compound in November after his family sent him to neighboring Burundi. Though he wasn’t seeking employment, an unknown recruiter contacted him about a job with all expenses paid. Despite his refusal, the recruiter proceeded anyway. At the compound, Youga faced regular beatings for refusing to work.
A former university student, Youga now only hopes for safety and a chance to rebuild. “I want to rebuild my life with dignity,” he said.
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11 Comments
This is a heartbreaking situation. It’s unconscionable that these vulnerable people have faced such exploitation and now have so little support available to them. The shelter’s challenges in meeting even basic needs underscores the scale of this crisis.
I agree, the lack of resources and assistance for these victims is deeply concerning. This issue deserves much more attention and a robust, multi-faceted response from the Cambodian government and international community.
It’s troubling to see how these scam compounds have proliferated in Cambodia, trapping vulnerable migrant workers. The shelter seems overwhelmed trying to help with limited resources. This is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive response from authorities.
Agreed, the government and international community need to step up and provide more support to address this growing crisis. The victims deserve better assistance to rebuild their lives after escaping these exploitative situations.
This is a disturbing example of the human toll of labor exploitation and trafficking. It’s very concerning to hear the shelter is so overwhelmed and under-resourced. Clearly, more needs to be done to address the root causes and provide proper assistance to the victims.
Tragic to see how the shelter is struggling to cope with the influx of victims fleeing scam compounds. The fact that they lack even basic necessities like pillows and blankets is very distressing. This crisis requires a major, sustained humanitarian response.
Absolutely, the situation is dire and the shelter’s limited capacity is just the tip of the iceberg. Urgent action is needed to provide comprehensive support and protection for all those impacted by these exploitative scams.
This is a tragic situation. Thousands of vulnerable people being exploited and left with little support. It’s concerning to hear the shelter is struggling due to reduced funding. More resources are clearly needed to assist these victims fleeing scams.
You’re right, this is a humanitarian crisis that deserves more attention and aid. The lack of basic necessities like pillows and blankets at the shelter is very concerning.
Sadly, this is another example of how human trafficking and labor exploitation continue to be major problems, even in relatively developed countries like Cambodia. The shelter’s struggles highlight how underfunded these types of services often are. More attention and resources are clearly needed.
You make a good point. Increased funding and a stronger coordinated response from authorities and aid organizations is crucial to provide adequate support and protection for the victims fleeing these scam compounds.