Indonesia escalates battle against fires, putrid haze

Indonesia is ramping up its fight against wildfires and the resulting haze, which has affected millions of people across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. According to the deputy health minister, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, over five million individuals in the region were directly exposed to the dangerous smoke and haze. In July and August alone, 13,500 people were treated for respiratory infections, and several schools were intermittently closed due to the poor air quality.

Several vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women with asthma, and outdoor workers, are particularly at risk and must be closely monitored. In response to the crisis, NGOs have set up two shelters in Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan on Borneo island, to accommodate babies and children affected by the haze. Katharina Abi, a mother of two small children, brought her children to one of the shelters as the thick smoke became increasingly unbearable at home.

The Indonesian government has intensified efforts to combat the fires, including cloud seeding and water bombing. While cloud seeding's effectiveness depends on atmospheric conditions, the ground and air task forces continue to work tirelessly to extinguish and cool the burning areas. Over four million liters of water have been poured onto the fires, and more than 8,000kg of salt were scattered onto clouds this week, prompting light to moderate rains in some areas.

El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon, has exacerbated the situation by bringing drought and heightened wildfire risks to Indonesia. The government has distributed over five million masks across the country to help mitigate the effects of the toxic air. However, the root causes behind the recurring haze must be addressed, according to Indra Syahnanda of the environmental advocacy group WALHI.