OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia: Fires and Haze
10 October 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the United 
Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Jakarta and media reports.

SITUATION

1. Since the end of September, fires and haze have worsened in several 
provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan.  In Sumatra, the hotspots were 
mostly detected in Jambi and South Sumatra provinces.  In Kalimantan, 
most hotspots were detected in West and Central Kalimantan, but also in 
East and South Kalimantan provinces.  Most fires took place in former 
plantation areas and peat lands.  Fires were more frequent in 
inaccessible areas and where water sources were scarce.  Due to 
rainfalls in some areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan, the number of 
hotspots continues fluctuating.  In both provinces, the thick haze has 
forced cancellations or delays of local flights because of the limited 
visibility near airports.

2. The number of detected hotspots in West Kalimantan in the past two 
weeks reached a peak of 500 fires in a single day, scattered mostly in 
Ketapang, Kapuas Hulu and Sanggau districts.  Due to the rainfalls, the 
number of hotspots in this province has decreased.  However, smoke haze 
from West Kalimantan still affects Pontianak city and its surroundings. 
The Pollution Standard Index (PSI) has already reached the dangerous 
level (300 - 550), and on 2 October, the highest PSI at 913 was recorded 
in Pontianak. As of 10 October, local authorities have been closing down 
some schools, especially kindergarten and elementary levels.

3. In Central Kalimantan, most hotspots were detected in Sampit, 
Seruyan, Kota Waringin Timur, Kapuas and Pulau Pisau districts.  During 
the last two weeks, the peak of detected hotspots in one single day 
reached nearly 3,500 fires.  With rainfalls, the number of hotspots has 
decreased, but the thick smoke haze still blankets Palangkaraya city and 
surroundings. In these areas, local health offices and various local 
organizations have distributed masks.  As of this week, schools from 
kindergarten to high school levels have closed down.

4. Media reported that on 6 October, one boat sank on the Musri River in 
South Sumatra province, after a ship carrying tons of fertilizer hit 
four other vessels due to poor visibility.  No fatalities were reported. 
On 8 October, two ships collided in the Batanghari river, Jambi 
province, and one crew member has since been missing after falling down 
from one of the ships.

5. Media has also reported that the number of patients with acute 
respiratory track infections is on the increase in Riau and Jambi 
provinces.

6. The thick haze has also begun shrouding Singapore and Malaysia.  The 
Government of Malaysia is encouraging the Indonesian Government to sign 
the ASEAN Agreement on Trans Boundary Haze Pollution, considering that 
Indonesia is the sole country which has not yet signed it.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. On 10 October, BAKORNAS PB convened a coordination meeting with 
pertinent Ministries and a decision has been made to carry out water 
bombings and cloud seeding operations in Jambi, South Sumatra, Central 
Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan 
provinces in the next few days.

8. Manggala Agni fire brigades, together with fire fighters from local 
administrations, local communities and organizations, continue to 
suppress fires from the ground. Local authorities in the affected 
provinces also continue disseminating to local farmers the prohibition 
on opening fires.

9. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) 
continues to provide weather situation and fire danger information. 
The Indonesian Meteorological Services continues providing information 
on the weather situation.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

11. On 11 October, six members of the Panel of ASEAN Experts on Fire and 
Haze Assessment from Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and one 
person from the ASEAN Secretariat will be deployed to South Sumatra for 
a rapid assessment.  This will be the third rapid assessment undertaken 
by this Panel of ASEAN Experts.  The first assessment took place between 
9 and 11 August, and the second one between 11 and 13 September.

12. The UN RC/HC Office in Indonesia continues monitoring the situation.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only:
Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officer:
  Mr. Guido Galli, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3171
  Ms. Ah-Young Kim, Direct Tel.  +1-212-963 5131

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-212-963 87 40

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