Head of BNPB Clarifies Statement on Normal Life Amidst Haze
The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNB), Letjen TNI Suharyanto, has clarified his statement regarding “the wheels of community life running normally” amidst the management of forest and land fires (karhutla) and the impact of haze in Kalimantan. The clarification was delivered via the BNPB Head’s Instagram account, @suharyanto_shr, on Friday (25/09/2026).
Suharyanto explained that the statement was made during a limited meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia on Wednesday (23/09/2026). According to him, the term “normal” was used in a limited sense to refer to the continuity of several basic community activities.
“I need to clarify that the context of the word ‘normal’ refers to limited indicators regarding basic community activities, such as land traffic, trade, and public services, which are still ongoing,” he stated, as quoted by Republika on Friday.
Suhlyanto emphasised that the statement was not intended to conclude that environmental conditions have returned to normal or to ignore the impacts felt by the community due to forest fires and haze. The statement was also not intended to reduce the facts regarding the declining quality of life for those affected by the fires and haze.
“BNPB recognises that communities in several regions, particularly Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan, are still facing the serious impacts of haze,” he said.
He acknowledged that the forest fires have impacted air quality, public health, educational activities, aviation, and other activities in several locations. Furthermore, in the same report, he noted that the thickness of the haze in parts of Central and West Kalimantan has disrupted both commercial flights and aerial operations for fire suppression.
“In other words, the continuity of basic services and community activities is one of the aspects of the field situation being reported. Nevertheless, aspects of safety, health, air quality, and the management of fire sources remain the government’s primary concern,” he concluded.