S'pore warns public of haze from RI<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): The Singapore government warned the public
\nThursday to start preparing for the possible return of unhealthy
\nair pollution here within weeks as hundreds of forest fires rage
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Forest fires began in January in East Kalimantan and the
\nsituation has deteriorated in recent weeks, with hundreds of
\nforest fires reported, an official statement said.<\/p>\n
The warning came one day after Southeast Asian nations
\nappealed for international help to fight the forest fires.<\/p>\n
\"If this situation persists, Singapore will be affected by
\nsmoke haze following the onset of the inter-monsoon period in
\nlate March, when winds become more variable and will blow from a
\nmore southerly direction in some days,\" the Singapore government
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Millions of people in Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of
\nSoutheast Asia were affected by a severe haze in the latter half
\nof 1997, triggering an international effort to douse Indonesian
\nforest fires.<\/p>\n
Most of the fires are believed to have been deliberately
\nstarted by commercial plantations as well as farmers to clear
\nland for planting.<\/p>\n
There are fears in the region that the problem could be more
\nsevere this year because Indonesia is currently gripped by an
\neconomic crisis, forcing the government to cut down on spending.<\/p>\n
The Singapore health ministry said persons with asthma,
\nchronic lung disease and sinusitis, and allergic skin conditions
\nwere likely to be more affected by the haze.<\/p>\n
\"Children and the elderly in general would be more
\nsusceptible,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Households with vulnerable members were advised to consider
\nbuying air cleaners or special filters for their airconditioners
\nto reduce the impact of the environmental problem.<\/p>\n
It provided a list of air cleaners found to be effective in
\nreducing the level of fine particles in homes to acceptable
\nlevels, with some models costing more than 1,000 Singapore
\ndollars (US$620).<\/p>\n
Buildings could also install cleaners and other devices for
\ncentralized airconditioning systems to minimize the effects of
\nthe haze.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Southeast Asian environment ministers met in
\nMalaysia's Kuching town near East Kalimantan to discuss ways to
\ntackle the fires.<\/p>\n
\"The meeting noted that the fires of East Kalimantan are of
\nserious concern because of the prolonged dry weather and welcomed
\nany immediate international assistance, especially in enhancing
\nthe fire-fighting capacity, \" the ministers of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spore-warns-public-of-haze-from-ri-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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