South Kalimantan Children Suffer from Forest Fire Haze

In Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, haze from forest and land fires (karhutla) is severely impacting the lives of residents, particularly children. Siti Sarah, 33, has been plagued for over a month by frequent fires near her home and the risk of burning in the dry peatlands. According to data from the South Kalimantan Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Kalsel), 436 forest fires occurred in Banjarbaru from January to August 29, with 71 of them confirmed in the Landasan Ulin Selatan sub-district where Sarah resides. On the afternoon of August 19, a fire broke out approximately 100 meters from Sarah's house. Fueled by strong winds, the flames rapidly spread, forcing residents to evacuate. Although the fire was extinguished through firefighting efforts, Sarah is suffering from fear of leaving her home and insomnia at night. "I'm anxious that a fire might suddenly break out, and I can't sleep," she said. The smoke from the fires penetrates homes, obstructing vision and causing health issues such as coughing, a runny nose, sore throat, and headaches. For Sarah, who has suffered from asthma since childhood, the impact is more severe. These conditions present a unique challenge for South Kalimantan. The vast peatlands are prone to drying out, and when fires occur, they bring widespread haze. Residents are facing a cycle of fire incidents, associated health problems, and anxiety about their livelihoods. Information Source: Mongabay Indonesia