Foreign Aid for Haze Disaster Concentrated in South Sumatra
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Jumat, 9 Oktober 2015 14:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo said foreign assistance would be concentrated on forest fires in South Sumatra Province. “South Sumatera has the most hotspots,” he said on Wednesday.
Jokowi said the countries that are ready to provide aid are Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, Australia and China. “But Singapore is the only one that came today. Other countries will follow soon,” said Jokowi.
The aid given is planes that can carry water for waterbombing above 10 tons. “We are dealing with peatlands. No fire on the surface, but it’s burning under it,” he said.
Jokowi also said that mitigating the haze disaster took a long time due to the wide land areas and El Nino.
Kampar Regent Jefry Noer said the haze caused an increase in cases of respiratory infection. “There are around 20 patients going to Puskesmas every day, but we take care of them. So, it’s not as bad as the media report,” he said.
He said that Puskesmas was ready to treat haze victims for free and 24 hours.
Health Minister Nila Moeloek hoped that everyone wears masks when they are outside.
“Pollutant can be 2.5 or 10 microns. It can be also in the form of gas,” said Nila.
ANTARA
