Indonesia Students Protest Haze as Palangka Raya Offers Free Oxygen
Forest fires and haze have driven respiratory illness cases higher in Indonesia, while students demand a stronger government response. Palangka Raya is…
Reuters reported that students in Indonesia took to the streets last week as forest fire haze worsened and respiratory illnesses rose, demanding a stronger government response. In Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, the local administration is also providing free oxygen through a mobile bus for people struggling to breathe.
The fires are among Indonesia’s most intense in almost 11 years, according to Reuters. The health ministry said about 350,000 respiratory illness cases linked to the fires were recorded from August to 25 October, while Central Kalimantan reported about 31,000 cases as of last week.
The numbers are reaching patients directly. Residents can receive oxygen through a small tube for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, with healthcare professionals on board the white-and-blue bus recording patient details and assisting those who report breathing difficulties.
Oxygen service expands in Central Kalimantan
The Central Kalimantan provincial health department said the service is intended for people with respiratory problems or those needing oxygen support amid unhealthy air quality. At least 127 patients have received the free oxygen health service, the department said.
In a post on Wednesday, the department also announced an “oxygen house” for residents and firefighters involved in frontline firefighting efforts. The service offers practical relief as smoke affects daily life, while the reported rise in illness points to a broader public health burden.
“If I've been out of the house lately, I feel tightness and coughing ... because this morning the thick yellowish smoke, so my breathing feels tight,” said Purnasari, 31, a patient who used the bus.
The health impact extends beyond Central Kalimantan. Reuters reported that haze from Indonesia’s El Niño-fuelled wildfire season has coincided with a dramatic decline in air quality in Singapore and Malaysia. Indonesia’s air pollution index has crossed 1,000 in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, more than four times the threshold of 300 classified as hazardous, according to reports cited by Reuters.
Students demand emergency declaration
Thousands of protesters took to the streets last week to demand an emergency declaration that would unlock funds and help people with medical expenses. President Prabowo Subianto has so far resisted declaring an emergency, according to Reuters, and has faced criticism at home and abroad over Jakarta’s response to the fires.
“In Indonesia, we're so angry. We want the officials responsible to be held accountable,” said Vincent Thomas, a student at Universitas Padjadjaran.
Indonesia and Singapore are looking to establish a joint task force to address haze from the wildfires, the countries’ foreign ministers said on Tuesday as they met to reaffirm ties after weeks of simmering tensions. Singapore has issued legal notices to seven companies in Indonesia it blames for the fires, while environment minister Grace Fu warned that air quality there could worsen.
Source: sg.news.yahoo.com