House of Representatives Urges Government to Act Quickly in Addressing the Impact of Forest and Land Fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan

The deteriorating air quality caused by forest and land fires in several regions across Sumatra and Kalimantan is considered a serious threat to public health. Both central and local governments are urged not to wait for fatalities to occur or for a surge in cases of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) before taking concrete action.

This urgent call was issued by Vita Ervina, a member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), following a high concentration of hotspots in several vulnerable regions. "The government must not wait for casualties to occur before taking action. As hotspots multiply and smoke begins to spread, the state must step in immediately," stated Vita Ervina on Thursday (October 15, 2026).

According to monitoring by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) as of October 11, 2026, hundreds of high-confidence hotspots have been recorded across various regions. Specifically, 234 hotspots were detected in South Sumatra and 213 in Central Kalimantan, with smoke spreading to cover parts of Sumatra and a large portion of Kalimantan.

Strengthening Healthcare Facilities and Protecting Vulnerable Groups

In response to this situation, Vita urged that healthcare facilities in the affected areas be placed on high alert. Community health centers (Puskesmas) and hospitals must ensure that medical supplies, oxygen, healthcare personnel, treatment facilities, and referral systems are fully prepared and functioning optimally.

"The government’s response must outpace the spread of the smoke. We cannot allow a situation where smoke has already entered people's homes while the government’s response still lags behind," emphasized the UGM Master of Management (MM) alumna.

Furthermore, she placed special emphasis on the protection of vulnerable groups, including:

– Children and the elderly

– Pregnant women

– Individuals with underlying health conditions (comorbidities) and respiratory issues

Public education regarding air quality conditions, recommendations to limit outdoor activities, proper mask usage, and information on health danger signs must be disseminated quickly and in a way that is easily understood by the public.

Data Integration and Sustainable Prevention

Within the disaster management system, Vita advocates for the full utilization of integrated data—covering hotspots, air quality, wind direction, affected areas, and cases of respiratory issues—to serve as an early warning system.

"Data should not just sit on a dashboard; it must translate into decisions and actions. If risks are already apparent, health interventions must be implemented before a surge in cases occurs," she added.

Vita emphasizes that forest and land fires should no longer be viewed merely as seasonal disasters addressed only after they escalate in scale. Efforts toward prevention, hotspot control, land rewetting, and cross-sectoral coordination must be strengthened on an ongoing basis.

"While forest and land fires may recur, a failure in the state’s response must never be normalized. The public has a right to healthy air and tangible health protection. When smoke enters homes and impairs people's breathing, the issue is no longer just environmental—it becomes a public health crisis, and the state must not be late to intervene," she concluded. (Ypr)