Swedish aid for forest fires

Swedish aid for forest fires

JAKARTA: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) handed
over forest fire-fighting equipment worth $750,000 from the
Swedish government to the Indonesian government yesterday.

UNDP resident representative Ravi Rajan said the equipment
was to help Indonesia improve its capability to fight forest
fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The donation was given in a ceremony attended by Rajan,
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anaz and Swedish
Ambassador to Indonesia Mikael Lindstrom.

The Swedish Rescue Services Agency, which provided the
donation, has so far given a variety of assistance equal to
roughly Rp 10 billion (US$1 million), the UNDP said.

The latest donation consists of 10 sets of basic fire-fighting
equipment and 10 seats of peat fire-fighting equipment as well as
protective clothing. Also included are four Swedish fire-fighting
instructors who will train 60 prospective instructors in Riau and
in East Kalimantan.