Safeguarding Preah Vihear Temple

The Temple of Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage Property inscribed in 2008, suffered significant structural and material damage in 2025. The site now faces compounded threats, including unstable built fabric, displaced stone elements and decorative fragments, documentation gaps in the affected areas, and the presence of unexploded ordnance in and around the property. These risks are heightened by the approaching rainy season, expected to begin in July, which could cause further deterioration and irreversible loss if urgent protective measures are not undertaken. The project proposes a phased emergency safeguarding and recovery response designed to secure the property, mitigate immediate risks, and prepare the ground for subsequent conservation action. It first focuses on the priority interventions required before the rainy season, while later phases will cover technical studies, conservation planning, capacity building, restoration works, drainage improvements, and monitoring.