Forestry Minister: Forest fire handling covers firefighting to social aid

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has assured that the government’s handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) is not only about suppression, but also about social and health assistance felt by affected communities.

“So indeed, the handling of forest and land fires must be comprehensive. The social impacts resulting from these fires are also being addressed,” the minister said in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

Raja Antoni further explained that the handling of social impacts is carried out through a number of services for affected communities, including in the aftermath of the fires in Riau, such as health clinics to check the condition of residents, trauma healing for children, and special clinics for oxygen provision.

“There are health clinics to check the community’s health, there is also trauma healing for the children who may be experiencing trauma from this incident. There was also a special clinic for oxygen provision,” he said.

He expressed appreciation for the joint efforts of the regional government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and National Police (TNI-Polri), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and the Forestry Ministry’s Manggala Agni fire brigade.

The handling is carried out from suppression and addressing the impact on communities to forest restoration.

“I think Riau is a good example, that not only the suppression, but also the social and health impacts are being handled. Only through this collaboration can the problem of forest and land fires be overcome,” said Raja Antoni.

“We are still in the suppression process, but at the same time it has been followed by the planting process. I think this can be done simultaneously,” said Forestry Minister Raja Antoni.