Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that the government’s forest and land fire response efforts extend beyond putting out flames to providing social assistance and healthcare for affected communities.
“Our response to forest and land fires must be comprehensive. We are addressing the social impact as well,” the minister said in a statement received on Friday.
He explained that these measures are delivered through various community services. Following recent fires in Riau, for instance, officials rolled out health clinics to check on residents, trauma healing sessions for children, and specialized oxygen stations.
During an on-site inspection of fire management in Kerumutan Sub-district, Pelalawan District, Riau, on Friday, Antoni stressed that cross-agency collaboration remains the key to tackling the crisis.
He praised the joint response involving local governments, the military, the police, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), regional disaster mitigation agencies (BPBD), and the Forestry Ministry’s Manggala Agni fire brigade.
Efforts span from extinguishing fires and managing community impacts to restoring forest ecosystems.
“I think Riau serves as a great example where the measures are not just putting out flames, but also addressing the social and health impacts. Only through this level of collaboration can we tackle the issue of forest and land fires,” he said.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted ongoing ecosystem restoration efforts being carried out alongside fire management, with replanting initiatives already underway even as active firefighting operations continue.
Indonesia is intensifying efforts to fight land and forest fires in several regions as a strong El Niño phenomenon exacerbates dry conditions. The BNPB predicts the fire risk will peak between August and September 2026.
The government has combined ground, weather modification, and aerial operations to contain the fires, which have raised concerns over haze.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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