Coordinating Minister Says Foreign Assistance for Forest and Land Fires Must Match Needs

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar said offers of assistance from neighbouring countries to tackle forest and land fires must be matched to needs on the ground. He said the government was still able to meet all requirements for the response so far.

“Offers of assistance from the governments of neighbouring countries should also be adjusted to our needs on the ground. So far, we have been able to meet them all,” Muhaimin said at a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment in Central Jakarta on Thursday (22 October 2026).

He stressed that the government would continue to step up its efforts, while technical considerations for the response would be left to the relevant agencies.

“Of course, we will continue to intensify our efforts, and the relevant agencies will provide the technical considerations,” he said.

Muhaimin said the government’s response to the fires had been extensive, including the deployment of 71,000 personnel and firefighting equipment such as helicopters.

“Some 71,000 ground personnel have now been deployed to affected areas to tackle these forest and land fires,” he said.

The response also includes weather modification and dry-ice seeding. Different firefighting measures are being used according to conditions in each area.

“Once again, because terrain and causes vary greatly, particularly in peatland areas, combining different approaches is important and necessary,” he said.