South Sumatra Red Cross Distributes Masks to Residents Affected by Forest Fire Smoke

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) of South Sumatra Province has distributed masks to residents of Palembang City who are affected by smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) originating from several surrounding regencies.

“The distribution of masks to Palembang residents is a form of humanitarian concern and response to the impact of smoke caused by forest and land fires occurring in this province during the peak of the dry season over the last month,” said the Chairman of PMI South Sumatra, Feby Herman Deru, in Palembang on Tuesday.

He explained that the mask distribution took place at two strategic points in Palembang City, namely the Charitas Four-Way Intersection and the Plaju Jakabaring Four-Way Intersection.

During the field operations, PMI Banyuasin Regency and PMI Ogan Ilir Regency joined PMI South Sumatra Province to directly carry out the distribution of masks to the community.

This activity is one of the steps taken by the provincial PMI to help protect the public from the risk of health disturbances caused by exposure to forest fire smoke.

In addition to direct distribution to the public in Palembang City, PMI South Sumatra also distributed 15,000 masks to PMI branches in 17 regencies/cities within the province.

This distribution serves as a form of support to ensure that local PMI branches can also respond and assist communities affected by forest fire smoke in their respective areas.

The public is also urged to increase vigilance regarding air quality, wear masks when performing outdoor activities, and reduce outdoor activities when unnecessary.

This first phase of mask distribution is part of the PMI’s efforts to help manage the impacts of forest fires while simultaneously inviting the community to work together to protect the environment and prevent further forest and land fires.

Furthermore, it serves as a manifestation of PMI South Sumatra’s commitment to always be present in providing humanitarian services and assisting communities affected by disasters or emergency conditions.

Previously, the Head of the South Sumatra Class I Climatology Station, Wandayantolis, stated that based on monitoring from the Musi 2 Palembang PM2.5 Station, air quality in recent days has fallen into the unhealthy category due to haze.

Data from the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency) shows that the concentration of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, at the Musi 2 Palembang Station reached 37.6 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), which falls into the unhealthy category.

This condition is partly influenced by smoke from forest and land fires occurring in several areas of South Sumatra being carried into Palembang City.

Under these conditions, residents of Palembang City and other areas in South Sumatra affected by forest fire smoke are advised to use masks when engaging in outdoor activities to avoid exposure to poor air quality, Wandayantolis added.