Indonesian villagers on Borneo struggle for water as El Niño intensifies peatland fires

Indonesian villagers in Penyeladi village on Borneo are struggling for water as the super El Niño intensifies the impact of dried peatlands. Sriwati, a shopkeeper and mother of three, no longer relies on the river for her needs after three months without rain. Experts attribute this crisis to the combined effects of El Niño and decades of destruction of the island's vital peatlands, which are crucial for carbon storage, water regulation, and pollution control.

The Kapuas River, which over 3 million people depend on, has receded severely, leaving only a shallow stream of contaminated water. To cope, villagers must now purchase water, increasing their monthly expenses. This situation is exacerbated by the extreme drought, heat waves, and flooding predicted by El Niño, which could surpass a record event in 1997 that caused billions in damage.

The degradation of peatlands, largely due to land conversion for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations, amplifies the impact of El Niño, causing the water table to drop and diminishing the availability of safe drinking water. Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry acknowledges the negative effects of drained peatlands but insists on determining specific causes and liabilities through evidence.

They aim to prevent future degradation by restoring ecosystems, enforcing strict regulations on concession holders, and promoting fire prevention. Meanwhile, the ongoing fires, fueled by dry conditions, are challenging to extinguish and have caused a toxic haze that has reached as far as the Philippines, breaching Malaysia's air pollution emergency threshold.