Aerial photo of peatland fires in Kumpeh Ulu, Muarojambi, Jambi, Thursday (1/8/2019).
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Doni Monardo has invited all components of the nation to put a halt to forest and land fires through maximizing prevention efforts.
"Prevention is far better and more effective than containment. A fire will have wide-ranging impacts on the social, health, and security aspects of life," Monardo noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday.
To prevent the recurrence of forest and land fires, Monardo has invited regional leaders, business communities, universities, communities, and mass media and communication to remind one another of the perils of forest and land fires.
As a man-made disaster, forest and land fires will not only harm humans but also damage the natural ecosystem.
"Forest and land fires are our concern," he noted.
Monardo remarked that forest and land fires will affect communities in the region. One of the major impacts of smoke arising from forest and land fires is a spike in acute respiratory infections.
Hence, Monardo has urged people to tackle forest and land fires.
Riau has emerged as a province with the most hotspots of forest and land fires across Indonesia. The BNPB has deployed 17 helicopters and an aircraft to conduct weather modification in the province.
Moreover, 1,512 joint personnel from the military, police, Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), ministries/institutions, and others, have also been deployed to prevent and overcome forest and land fires.
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