Prabowo Instructs Additional PPE and Masks for Regions Affected by Forest and Land Fire Haze

President Prabowo Subianto has asked his staff to increase the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks to regions affected by forest and land fires (karhutla) and the resulting haze.

During a coordination meeting on forest fire management in Palembang, South Sumatra, which was monitored online from Jakarta on Monday (24/8), President Prabowo asked about the needs of regional governments in South Sumatra, Jambi and Lampung that should be added to support forest fire handling efforts.

“Can PPE be increased? How much PPE can be added? I think masks are also needed, right? Please deploy as many as possible to all regions,” said Prabowo.

Not only PPE and masks, the President also agreed to requests from regional governments for additional equipment to support forest fire management, such as excavators, trail motorcycles and water pumps.

In addition, several regional governments also requested additional helicopter deployments for aerial firefighting or water bombing, as well as the construction of more retention basins, boreholes and canal blocks to ensure peatlands remain wet.

The President also took the opportunity to express appreciation for the performance of ministries and agencies, regional governments and especially frontline personnel working to extinguish forest fires in Sumatra.

“Convey my thanks to all officers in the field, at all command posts, at the forward posts. We will strive to provide support for everyone on the front line,” said Prabowo Subianto.

In addition to addressing forest fires in South Sumatra, the President also held online coordination meetings with regional government officials in Jambi and Lampung regarding forest fire management in their respective areas. Earlier on Monday morning, Prabowo arrived in Pekanbaru, Riau to lead a meeting on forest fire management in that region.