World Vision Indonesia is responding to severe forest fire and haze

Jakarta, Indonesia World Vision is responding to severe forest fire and haze to address the immediate needs of the affected population, especially children.

To date, the haze has affected more than 43 million people in Indonesia. More than 12 deaths, including that of four infants, have been reported as direct results of the haze/forest fires. An estimated half a million people have been diagnosed with acute respiratory infection that can be attributed to the haze.

The haze has reached Malaysia, Singapore, and just recently, the southern part of the Philippines.

An estimated half a million people have been diagnosed with acute respiratory infection.

On September 4, 2015, the Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management reported that six provinces declared a state of emergency due to the haze.

These provinces are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. However, the government of Indonesia hasn’t declared it as National Disaster yet.

With regards to direct impact on World Vision Indonesia's operations, the haze has so far affected 13 programme areas, with a total of 21,528 registered children of whom at least 16,000 are severely impacted.

The haze has caused school disruptions several times since last month. It has also caused flight cancellations.

With the massive damage in the vegetation and deforestation of tens thousands hectares of land across the country, it is feared that the haze will continue to significantly impact the livelihood and health of the affected population, as well as possibilities of flooding during the upcoming rainy season which usually occurs in November.

There is massive damage in the vegetation and deforestation of tens thousands of hectares of land across the country.

Over the past weeks, World Vision has distributed more than 18,000 masks to the affected people in operational programme areas in West Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku. We have also distributed information and education materials on haze mitigation to the communities in the affected region both in operational and non-operational area.

With its response to this disaster, World Vision Indonesia plans to:

1. Address emergency needs prioritising programme communities with a focus on children in existing operational areas and considering engagement in non-operational areas if humanitarian space and resources permit.
2. Address medium and long-term impact on the children’s health due to the forest fires and hazardous haze and preparedness for potential forest fires in early 2016 when the rainy season is over.
3. Having safe school and health centers as evacuation alternatives, especially for children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, elders and other vulnerable groups.
4. Conduct joint advocacy on the fire hazard impact to strengthen government’s rules and roles in forbidding and controlling the land burning incident, in collaboration with other stakeholders.

WV Indonesia plans to carry out the emergency response in coordination with local government, other humanitarian actors, communities and faith leaders.