Nearly 170,000 Cambodian evacuees return home so far

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Some 167,478 Cambodian evacuees have so far returned to their homes, Cambodia's Ministry of Interior said in a press release on Thursday.

About 110,924 displaced persons have returned to their homes in Banteay Meanchey province, 47,594 in Oddar Meanchey province, and 8,960 in Preah Vihear province, the press release said.

Meanwhile, around 512,263 displaced persons are still at various safe shelters.

Cambodia and Thailand signed a joint statement on Dec. 27, agreeing to an immediate ceasefire after three weeks of armed conflict.■