Indonesian Lawmaker Urges National Disaster Status for Forest Fires

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  PKB lawmaker Daniel Johan urged Indonesia to declare the forest and land fires a national disaster.

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  He said fires in Kalimantan had continued for three months and smoke was disrupting health, flights, schools, daily activities and the economy.

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  Johan said national disaster status could allow more funding to address the fires and support affected residents.

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  He also called for children and older people to be evacuated from areas affected by smoke and said Indonesia should accept international assistance.

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  The government reported that about 639 hectares of land in six provinces were still being extinguished.

Who

Daniel Johan, a lawmaker from the PKB faction, urged the government to declare the fires a national disaster.

What

He called for national disaster status for forest and land fires and proposed evacuating children and older people from smoke-affected areas.

When

He made the remarks on Tuesday, 13 October; the article was published that day.

Where

The fires affected Kalimantan and other areas in six provinces: West, Central and South Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Riau and Jambi.

Why

Johan said the fires were seriously harming public health and disrupting daily life, while national status could help provide funding and assistance.

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