Environment Minister urges residents to follow local leaders' instructions during forest and land fires

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat has urged the public to comply with directives from regional heads during the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) to prevent health problems caused by exposure to smoke haze.

“The public must listen to what the mayor says. So if the mayor says do not leave the house yet, there is a circular, for example schools may operate remotely, then we should just do that,” said Jumhur while visiting residents affected by forest and land fires in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

According to him, compliance with local government directives is important because smoke haze from forest and land fires can increase the risk of health problems, especially if residents continue to carry out activities outside the home when air quality has not fully improved.

“Rather than later getting into trouble, illnesses increasing, acute respiratory infections (ISPA), shortness of breath, we are the ones who lose out,” he said.

“So far, thank God, the weather has cleared a little. Hopefully it will continue to clear as the forest and land fires are handled. Hopefully Allah SWT will send rain,” he added.

During the visit, the Environment Minister brought a number of staff handling forest and land fires to help strengthen on-the-ground efforts, including coordinating with officials and relevant parties so that fire control measures can proceed quickly and in a focused manner.

In addition to being involved in reviewing and tackling forest and land fires in Banjarbaru, the Environment Minister also distributed social assistance to a number of residents affected by the fires in several affected areas as a form of government support for the community during these conditions.

The Environment Minister also stepped up public education on measures to minimise the impact of smoke haze during forest and land fires, particularly reminding residents to follow local government directives as an effort to maintain safety and health until conditions return to normal.