Indonesia mulls 113 million USD to tackle forest fires

The Indonesian Finance Ministry is mulling providing additional funding of 1.6 trillion Rp proposed by the local National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to handle ongoing forest fires.

Speaking to the press on September 26, Askolani, the ministry’s budgeting director general to Tempo in Jakarta, Thursday, September 26, said the funds might be disbursed as the government has listed the emergency funds in the 2019 state budget.

Firefighters work in Riau, Indonesia, on September 23 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Firefighters work in Riau, Indonesia, on September 23 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

The available funds, he said, would be sufficient for the agency to settle the forest fires until the year’s end.

Forest and land fires in several areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan are still raging. The BNPB head Doni Monardo said 328,724 hectares of land, including 86,563 hectares of peatlands, have burned down so far this year.

Indonesia has deployed thousands of personnel and dozens of helicopters to put out fires. Currently, haze from the country is seriously affecting neighbouring countries.

Forest fires often occur in Indonesia over land clearing activities for palm oil plantation and paper production. But the fires often rage out of control especially during the dry season.

VNA

Other News

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Van affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UNESCO80 reform roadmap, focusing on the organisation’s core mandate, priority areas, interdisciplinary approach, and the special status of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO representative offices, alongside efforts to diversify resources and strengthen global partnerships to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Regional media highlight significant step in Vietnam’s leadership structure

Under General Secretary and President Lam’s leadership, Vietnam is expected to maintain a balanced foreign policy, strengthen its regional standing and accelerate economic development, thereby improving living standards and creating new opportunities for international investors, according to the India-based platform Devdiscourse.

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos identifies 10 key tasks to build independent, self-reliant economy

Laos will step up agricultural production to ensure food security, meet domestic demand and expand exports; encourage the development of agro-processing industries, including those related to rubber, aquatic products, cassava and sugarcane, as well as fertiliser and animal feed production, in order to increase added value and create jobs in rural areas.

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

Malaysia steps up cyber security resilience

To ensure accountability, Malaysia plans to finalise the Cybercrime Bill this year which addresses both cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, introducing stricter penalties and prison terms to enhance deterrence.

US public opinion positive about PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit

US public opinion positive about PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit

Public opinion in the US is generally positive about Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to the US from September 17-23 to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which took place immediately after the upgrading of the Vietnam - US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Vietnam.