Jakarta, Oct 23, 2015 (Antara) - The prolonged drought in Indonesia, induced by El Nino weather phenomena, worsened the forest, peatland and plantation fires, leading to hazardous haze, particularly in six provinces.
These six provinces are South Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.
Between June 29 and October 5, 2015, at least 307,360 people in the six provinces sought medical treatment for respiratory problems and other diseases caused by smoke or haze from the fires.
Between June 29 and October 5, 2015, at least 307,360 people in the six provinces sought medical treatment for respiratory problems and other diseases caused by smoke or haze from the fires.
People living in regions covered by haze mostly suffered from acute respiratory infections, eye and skin irritations, pneumonia, asthma and diarrhea.
The most high-risk groups that might suffer from poor air quality are infants, toddlers, children, pregnant women and the elderly. They are three times more likely to suffer very serious consequences than others. According to a media report, at least 10 people, mostly babies, have died so far due to the effect of haze.
To prevent these children from turning into the "haze generation," the central government has decided to evacuate the victims of haze, with priority being accorded to infants.
"The government is currently coordinating and trying to find a way to evacuate the infants who have become victims of haze disaster, to safer places," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said on October 22, 2015.
The children were likely to be evacuated to government office buildings equipped with air filters. Another alternative is to evacuate them to nearby towns relatively clear of haze.
The authorities are also considering using Indonesia's warships and ships of the state-owned shipping company PELNI to accommodate them until the situation returns to normal.
Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said six warships and two PELNI ships would be deployed to carry out the evacuation process.
Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said there is a possibility that the infants would be evacuated to other provinces.
The Social Affairs Ministry, for instance, has prepared its education and training office in Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan Province to accommodate infants from the Central Kalimantan Province, worst-hit by haze.
"There are two buildings that could accommodate up to 250 families," the minister said.
The social ministers are currently also preparing emergency tents equipped with smoke-filters. She mentioned that some 1.44 million people from very poor families have been affected by the haze disaster.
In fact, a number of haze victims in Central Kalimantan voluntarily evacuated themselves and their families either to Banjarmasin, or to Java Island.
Earlier, in September, Riau Province's Pekanbaru Mayor Firdaus issued an order to evacuate infants under six months of age in 12 sub-districts badly affected by haze resulting from the forest fires.
Earlier, in September, Riau Province's Pekanbaru Mayor Firdaus issued an order to evacuate infants under six months of age in 12 sub-districts badly affected by haze resulting from the forest fires.
The local authorities coordinated the evacuation of infants below six months of age from underprivileged families, he stated.
They have been accommodated as of now in the city hall that has been transformed into a makeshift nursery and has been equipped with baby boxes, air conditioners and a health clinic. The local authorities also provide milk to the infants.
Showing his concern over the haze disaster, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) once again led a meeting on forest fires in Jakarta, on October 23.
"The fires have had a huge impact and it is categorically very unhealthy," the President stated while chairing the limited cabinet meeting.
He quoted the latest reports that Sumatra Island had 826 hotspots, South Sumatra 703, Kalimantan 974, besides some in Sulawesi and Papua.
The President outlined some measures to be taken by the government to deal with the problem.
The first concrete measure is the joint implementation of the "one-map policy" by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).
The second measure is a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for the exploitation of peatland areas, and also on those who have obtained licenses but are not yet operating.
"With regard to the peatland areas, I need to notify the Environmental Affairs Minister to not issue any new licenses, and the restoration of these areas must be carried out soon," the head of the state noted.
The third measure is to review the old peatland exploitation licenses.
"Those, which are not operating, must not (be allowed to) operate (now)," he affirmed.
Another measure is the evacuation of haze victims, particularly infants, that has to be carried out by several concerned ministries in an integrated manner.
Jokowi affirmed that the victims, particularly infants, do not need to be evacuated out of town. He suggested that they could be accommodated in government buildings equipped with air-purifying devices.
In connection with medical services for haze victims, he urged the state owned and private companies to contribute.
He stated that the forest fires and haze disaster are problems that affect everyone, and therefore, every stakeholder, including the military, the police, and every ministry, must deal with it and help the victims.
The Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry reported that Central Kalimantan is currently the province worst hit by haze with the pollutant standard index surging to 1,950 (October 20), far above the threshold of 300 to 500 that denotes a categorically hazardous situation.
On the same day, the pollutant standard index in Jambi Province, Sumatra Island, was 945, while in both, West Kalimantan and South Sumatra, it was 400.
Ninety percent of the forest fires were caused by human beings this year. A total of 1.697 million hectares of area owned by 413 companies was where the fires occurred, according to the environmental affairs and forestry ministry.
Of the 413 companies, 227 were of forestry concessionary holders/industrial plant forests, and 186 were plantation companies. The government is tackling the cases.
Of the 413 companies, 227 were of forestry concessionary holders/industrial plant forests, and 186 were plantation companies. The government is tackling the cases.
The Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry has imposed sanctions including revoking the licenses of some of these companies.
Furthermore, the Indonesian Police have been tackling 262 cases of forest and plantation fires on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan so far.
"Up to October 21, 2015, the police had handled 262 cases of forest and plantation fires," Brigadier General Agus Rianto, spokesman of the National Police Headquarters, said on Oct. 22.
Of the total cases, 205 involved individuals and 57 cases involved corporations, including seven foreign companies.
The Police's Crime Investigation Department (Bareskrim) is handling four cases, the South Sumatra Police 36 cases, the Riau police 71 cases, the Jambi police 22 cases, the Central Kalimantan police 67 cases, the West Kalimantan police 29 cases, the South Kalimantan police 13 cases, and the East Kalimantan police 20 cases.
The police have also named 247 suspects, including 230 individuals and 17 corporations, in these cases, he said.
Of the total suspects, 88 have been detained including five representing corporations.
Over 50 thousand hectares of forest, peatland and plantation areas are still burning on the two islands.
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(f001/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE
23-10-2015 23:58:05
(f001/INE/B003)
EDITED BY INE
23-10-2015 23:58:05
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