Indonesia Faces Growing Demands to Protect Citizens from Forest Fire Haze

Ongoing forest and peatland fires across Indonesia are causing severe haze, with air quality reaching dangerous levels in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra. In response, various groups are urgently demanding the government strengthen protection measures for affected residents, especially vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. In Pontianak City and Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, the haze has worsened for weeks, pushing air pollution levels into the dangerous zone. IQAir data from the afternoon of September 12 showed an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 594 and PM2.5 levels at 372.7 µg/m³ in Pontianak. On the morning of September 13, PM10 levels remained high at 435.2 µg/m³, with PM2.5 at 213 µg/m³, also indicating dangerous conditions. Kubu Raya Regency reported PM2.5 levels of 265.2 µg/m³. "The haze is getting scarier and thicker," said Kayla, a resident of Pontianak, on September 12. She and her family are limiting outdoor activities, but due to gaps in their homes, smoke infiltration makes it difficult to avoid exposure even indoors. Schools in the city and regency have implemented temporary remote learning (PJJ) for early childhood education up to junior high school when air quality deteriorates. Similarly, in Riau Province, Sumatra, deteriorating air quality due to haze has been reported. In Pekanbaru, the provincial capital, online learning was conducted for educational institutions from early childhood to junior high school on September 7-8 due to severely poor air quality. Firefighters are working to extinguish the peatland fires, but the widespread nature of the fires and dry weather conditions are hampering containment efforts. This issue poses multifaceted impacts, including health problems, loss of educational opportunities, and disruptions to economic activities, making swift and effective government action a pressing priority.