EU pledges $303,000 for forest fire problems<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The European Union (EU) has pledged ECU 326,000,
\nequivalent to Rp 1.09 billion (US$303,000), to the Indonesian
\ngovernment to help overcome problems caused by the current forest
\nfires.<\/p>\n
The European Commission's representative office here said in a
\nstatement yesterday the pledge followed a decision by the
\nEuropean Commission and EU member states to undertake a
\ncoordinated European approach to assist the government and people
\nof Indonesia during the present emergency.<\/p>\n
The assistance comprises fire-fighting equipment valued at ECU
\n194,000, ECU 115,000 for remote sensing equipment and ECU 17,000
\nfor fire-fighting expertise.<\/p>\n
The offer followed the recommendation made by the EU Fire
\nResponse Group (EUFREG), an advisory team established by the
\nEuropean Commission and EU member states.<\/p>\n
The EUFREG team comprises experts from EU-assisted forestry
\nprojects and was set up to collect and analyze information on the
\nfires, coordinate with government agencies and other donors and
\nadvise the Commission and member states on appropriate responses.<\/p>\n
The pledge was in addition to ongoing EU-assisted forest fire
\nprojects in South Sumatra and East Kalimantan, the statement
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Through these projects, fire-fighting equipment has been made
\navailable to fire crews in recent weeks, local volunteers and
\nothers have been trained in basic fire-fighting techniques and
\nexpatriate fire management experts have given guidance and advice
\nto local teams at the fire sites.<\/p>\n
The EU member states and the European Commission have provided
\nnearly 35 percent of all external assistance to Indonesia's
\nforestry sector.<\/p>\n
The EU, therefore, has a long-term commitment to Indonesia's
\nforestry sector with many projects focusing on the conservation
\nand sustainable management of Indonesia's forest resources, the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Staff from these projects have been made available to assist
\nEUFREG in its analysis of the current situation.<\/p>\n
The lessons learned from this year's disastrous fires will be
\nincorporated into the projects, thus helping the government plan
\nfor the future.<\/p>\n
Individual EU member states have also committed further
\nassistance on a bilateral basis in response to the current
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
The additional assistance includes fire-fighting experts from
\nFinland, France, Germany and Sweden, and a provision of United
\nNations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team members from
\nGermany and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
The assistance also includes training for 100 Armed Forces
\npersonnel in East Kalimantan by Germany, and a monetary
\ncontribution of $110,000 from the United Kingdom to help fire
\nvictims and $10,000 from Greece for humanitarian aid. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-pledges-303000-for-forest-fire-problems-1447893297",
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