Praying for rain as fires, haze plague Indonesian Borneo

The Indonesian part of Borneo is grappling with devastating wildfires and resulting haze that are causing severe health issues and educational disruptions across the region. Blame for the disaster is partially placed on one of the worst droughts caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon in decades.

In West Kalimantan, one of the hardest-hit provinces, schools have closed due to the hazardous air quality, affecting roughly 200,000 students who now learn remotely from their homes. However, many students lack access to the necessary technology and stable internet connections, and some endure power outages, making online classes challenging. School officials hope the haze will clear soon, as rainfall typically follows the fire season.

The health agency in Kubu Raya regency, responsible for a population of 700,000, has seen over 1,400 people hospitalized or treated for respiratory infections in September alone. The agency is struggling with a shortage of masks and water, which has led to an increase in cases of diarrhea. BMKG's weather agency predicts that the situation may worsen, urging authorities to intensify efforts in providing clean water, medicine, and firefighting resources.

Local residents, like Yonas from the Lintang Batang hamlet, are taking matters into their own hands by pooling resources to buy firefighting equipment and volunteer their time to combat the fires. However, they still face shortages of hoses and protective gear. The smoke, which exceeds the World Health Organization's safe limit for toxic small-particle pollution, poses a significant danger to vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with asthma.