House Speaker urged govt to curb forest and land fires

Jakarta (ANTARA) - House Speaker Puan Maharani urged the government to implement immediate strategic measures against escalating forest fires in Riau, warning that a harsh 2026 dry season severely threatens public health and safety.

The warning follows alarming data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), which revealed that 15,031.58 hectares of forest and land have already burned in Riau Province between January 1 and June 1, 2026.

In response to the crisis, 11 regions across the province have officially declared emergency alert statuses.

In a statement released Friday, Puan emphasized that mitigation efforts must prioritize protecting vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, pregnant or nursing mothers, individuals with disabilities, and those with comorbidities.

Rather than relying on standard evacuation spaces, Puan urged the government to establish specialized clean air shelters equipped with advanced particulate filtration systems near residential areas, schools, and integrated health posts (posyandu)

To manage both the environmental and public health fallout, she continued, relevant agencies must enforce automatic protocols tied to air quality.

"When the daily Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) exceeds the threshold, the government must quickly issue recommendations for residents' daily activities," Puan stated.

The House Speaker insisted that financial burdens from fire-related health complications should not fall on households, demanding that all treatments be fully covered by the National Health Insurance (BPJS Kesehatan).

With smoke and haze threatening remote communities, Puan urged a massive scale-up of medical supplies and emergency transport.

"Stocks of inhaler medication must always be ready, portable oxygen must be available at community health centers and mobile clinics, and SNI-standard masks must be distributed, prioritizing toddlers, pregnant women and the elderly,” she suggested.

Furthermore, she called for air transportation to remain on standby for medical evacuations in remote areas where thick smoke compromises ground visibility. On the firefighting front, she pressed for an immediate boost in infrastructure, particularly water-bombing aircraft.

To ensure a seamless emergency response, Puan requested that local governments establish rapid reporting channels linking residents directly to local health offices and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for urgent medical or oxygen needs.

"Any delays in the distribution of basic services such as standard masks, medicine, and clean water must be immediately addressed with a clear timeline for remediation," Puan warned, adding that economic assistance must also be provided to small businesses crippled by the fires.

"Forest and land fires are a crisis that tests coordination, so synergy is needed from all relevant stakeholders,” she concluded.

Related news: Riau puts 11 regions on forest fire alert ahead of dry season

Related news: A harsher dry season tests Indonesia's fire strategy

Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Primayanti

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