100 people fall ill daily due to haze<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An estimated 100 residents of Palangkaraya in
\nCentral Kalimantan, which is one of the worst affected areas by
\nthe forest fires and haze, fall ill with respiratory infections
\nevery day, according to an official.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted Tukik Toemon, the head of the provincial health
\noffice, as saying yesterday that a total of 23,303 sufferers of
\nrespiratory problems had sought medical attention at village
\nclinics and Dr. Doris Silvanus Public Hospital between July and
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
He said 11 people had died of the problems in local hospitals
\nduring the same period.<\/p>\n
The official also called on residents, especially in areas
\nwith the most foul air such as Palangkaraya and Kotawaringin
\nTimur regency, to reduce their time outdoors. Residents should
\nalso close doors and windows, and drink more liquids in order to
\navoid lung irritation caused by the smoke.<\/p>\n
The warning especially targeted children and elderly people.<\/p>\n
\"The concentration of dust particles in this region's air has
\nfar exceeded the level considered safe for humans,\" Tukik said.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 24, for instance, the amount of dust particles
\nrecorded was 2,910 mg\/m3, or 11 times the safe level of 260
\nmg\/m3.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health has recently said in a report that in
\nthe 12 provinces it studied, approximately 20,000 people in each
\nprovince had fallen ill of respiratory problems because of the
\nhaze. Of the number, however, less than 50 people sought medical
\nattention.<\/p>\n
The prolonged drought, which has been going on for about five
\nmonths and which some experts have predicted would drag on for
\nanother three to four months, has caused widespread forest fires,
\nchoking haze, crop failures and subsequent food shortages, as
\nwell as health problems.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been receiving international criticism on the
\nfires, but also foreign assistance to help put out the fires and
\nrelieve the starvation. Malaysia, Japan, Australia and the United
\nStates, for instance, have not only extended financial aid but
\nalso equipment and personnel to fight the forest fires.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the U.S. Fire 21 team prepared to leave East Java
\nwhose forest fires they had helped to extinguish since Oct. 20.
\nTeam commander, Col. Harold Reed, said in a farewell reception
\nthat the local community had been helpful in fighting the fires
\nthat ravaged about 3,700 hectares of forest.<\/p>\n
Consisting of 54 people, the firefighting team was equipped
\nwith two Hercules C-130 water bombers, one C-141 cargo jet and
\nanother Hercules C-130 logistics aircraft. Each of the water
\nbombers is able to transport 12,000 liters of water and offload
\nit on the fires within 10 minutes time.<\/p>\n
The water supply was taken from the Turen River not far from
\nthe airbase.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Environmental Impact and Management Agency
\ndescribed in its report yesterday the forest fire situation which
\nhas not improved so far.<\/p>\n
Satellite monitoring on Tuesday showed that thick, choking
\nsmoke still blanketed some areas in South Kalimantan, Central
\nKalimantan, West Kalimantan and most of Sumatra covering the
\nprovinces of Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu,
\nLampung and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Patches of thin smoke covered some areas in Aceh, Kalimantan,
\nand Sarawak, and a little of the Malaysian peninsula and Java on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Satellites also detected 76 hot spots or fire locations in
\nSumatra but could not read Kalimantan. Four airports were closed
\nTuesday -- the Sultan Taha in Jambi, the Sultan M. Baddarudin in
\nPalembang, the Tabing in Padang, West Java, and the Ciluk Riwut
\nin Palangka Rata.<\/p>\n
Welfare<\/p>\n
One of the areas worst affected by drought-related deaths was
\nIrian Jaya in the eastern tip of Indonesia. Officials said 461
\nmalnourished people had died of various illnesses in three
\nregencies. Relief has been pouring in but difficult terrain and
\nhaze had often hampered airlifts.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar
\nAnas visited Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency, which
\nrecorded the most deaths. Accompanied by local leaders, including
\nRegent J.B. Wenas, the minister spoke to and soothed residents
\nand appeased the concern of local priests.<\/p>\n
Antara also reported yesterday how starvation in the regency
\nof Puncak Jaya, Irian Jaya, might have been caused by poisonous
\nhaze that had destroyed local crops of sweet potatoes.<\/p>\n
Regent Ruben Ambrauw said over the weekend that the potato
\nplantations belonged to residents of Sinak and Bionga districts.<\/p>\n
The first haze, he said, took place throughout the whole day
\nduring one day in mid-July and another occurrence took place in
\nAugust.<\/p>\n
\"The smoke disappeared by the next day, but the sweet potatoes
\nand vegetables were ruined,\" Ambrauw said. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/100-people-fall-ill-daily-due-to-haze-1447893297",
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