Indonesia sends 3 warships to help people affected by haze
Indonesia has deployed three warships to help and evacuate people affected by an acrid haze, caused by forest fires, which have so far killed at least ten people across the country.
The ships arrived on the main central island of Kalimantan, one of the worst affected regions in the country, delivering protective face masks, tents and medical supplies to people, an official said Monday.
The warships have also taken much needed medical staff to Kalimantan.
"Our warships are ready to evacuate residents, whether to these temporary shelters or even on board. We are prepared for that," Indonesian military spokesman Tatang Sulaiman told AFP.
He said three more ships are also ready to be deployed to either Kalimantan or South Sumatra. Five more ships could also be pressed into service later, if needed.
For almost two months, thousands of fires caused by slash-and-burn farming in the country have choked much of Southeast Asia with thick toxic smog floating in the air.
The blazes burned over 1.7 million hectares of land while the toxic haze severely affected six provinces, according to Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry.
Schools in the affected cities have been closed and scores of flights as well as some international events have been cancelled. Indonesia's dangerous haze has caused respiratory illnesses in half a million residents across the country, officials said.
The Indonesian government has so far sent around 30 aircraft to combat the fires and for cloud seeding. 22,000 troops on the ground are also fighting the blazes.
“This is due to human acts because 99 percent of forest fires were started deliberately. This is an extraordinary crime against humanity,” said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
The haze has affected neighboring Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines as well. Other countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Japan have sent assistance to help Jakarta fight the forest fires.
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