In response to the hazardous air quality threatening local communities from the ongoing forest and land fires in Kalimantan, YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) is responding to protect the most at-risk groups. Operating in close coordination with local networks, YEU will support the Haze-Free House, a dedicated safe space in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, that serves as a crucial sanctuary for most at-risk residents severely affected by hazardous smoke.
The impact of forest and land fires on the community is primarily felt through exposure to hazardous haze. This exposure can cause coughing, eye and throat irritation, shortness of breath, and acute respiratory infections, and worsen the condition of people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The impact is more severe for most at-risk groups, especially children and toddlers, the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and people with chronic illnesses.
YEU will collaborate with the local network in West and Central Kalimantan to provide distribution of masks and vitamins, community outreach for health promotion on protection from forest fire smoke, supporting haze-free, safe space for at-risk groups affected by poor air quality that are equipped with air purifiers, oxygen concentrators and basic medicines. The Haze-free house has a capacity for 10 persons per day and will provide basic health screening for most at-risk individual.
To significantly reduce long-term health risks, initiatives must directly reach vulnerable communities during forest fires, particularly high-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases. Alongside physical health protection, providing support for the psychological well-being of communities affected by forest and land fires is vital for holistic recovery. Ultimately, these efforts empower the local network to build better preparedness and resilience.
This project has provided additional documentation in a XLSX file (projdoc.xlsx).
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