South Kalimantan firms distribute 20,000 masks amid wildfires

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3 hours ago

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – South Kalimantan’s Environment Agency and the local Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) distributed 20,000 masks to residents in order to mitigate the health effects caused by forest and land fires.

GAPKI South Kalimantan is also ready to provide direct support for firefighting operations in affected areas, according to a statement received here Monday.

The commitment followed a field visit and guidance from Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Hanif Faisol at a monitoring post in Banjarbaru on August 18, GAPKI South Kalimantan Executive Secretary Hairuddin said.

Hairuddin said GAPKI member companies would deploy firefighting teams to assist with operations on the ground.

“Firefighting teams from GAPKI members will go directly to the field. We will also be active from August 30 through Sept. 8, 2026,” he said.

Company involvement is expected to strengthen firefighting resources, particularly in tackling fires in areas that are difficult to reach, he added.

Meanwhile, South Kalimantan Environment Agency Chief Rahmat Prapto Udoyo praised companies for supporting fire response efforts, saying business involvement strengthened personnel in the ground fire-response task force.

“GAPKI is among them. Eight companies have now joined the ground task force handling the fires,” Rahmat said in Banjarbaru.

The collaboration among authorities, security forces, businesses, and residents is expected to accelerate the fire response while reducing smoke-related impacts on health and daily activities.

GAPKI South Kalimantan Executive Secretary Hairuddin said distributing masks reflected businesses’ concern for residents affected by haze.

GAPKI South Kalimantan had previously provided 17,500 masks through the Environment Agency and the provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency, he said.

Another 2,500 masks were distributed directly to residents with the Environment Agency, Plantation, and Livestock Agency and Disaster Mitigation Agency.

“That brings the total to 20,000 masks. We distributed 17,500 through the Environment Agency and Disaster Mitigation Agency, while 2,500 went directly to residents,” Hairuddin said.

The distribution was intended to protect residents as air quality deteriorated because of smoke from forest and land fires. The Plantation and Livestock Agency had previously distributed 2,500 free masks to residents outside its South Kalimantan office.

Hairuddin said worsening haze in several areas required coordinated action by the government, businesses, and communities.