Indonesia forest fires cause toxic haze and respiratory infections
Toxic haze from burning forests and peatlands in Indonesia has plunged air quality across parts of Central Kalimantan to dramatic levels, threatening the health of millions and triggering school closures. Misereor reported this Wednesday that the continuing forest and peat fires have caused air quality in parts of the province on the island of Borneo to sink to a dramatic level.
Toxic Smoke Blankets Southeast Asia
The thick haze has lingered for weeks over portions of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, driven by ongoing forest and peatland fires in Indonesia. According to the partner organization JPIC Kalimantan (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation), the smoke has severely impacted the local population, sparking urgent calls for resolute action. Schoenes-thailand.at reported that the crisis mirrors the catastrophic fires of 2015, which destroyed 2.6 million hectares of land and generated economic losses estimated by the World Bank at 16 billion US dollars. An extremely long dry season in 2026, exacerbated by the current El Niño phenomenon, has kept forest and land fires raging for weeks across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua.
The Indonesian Health Ministry registered more than 170,000 cases of acute respiratory infections in the affected smog zones between August and mid-September, alongside over 40,000 cases among small children, as reported by schoenes-thailand.at. In Malaysia, the heavy smoke forced the closure of hundreds of schools, while approximately 1.4 million Indonesian students shifted to remote learning.
Vulnerability on the Ground
Frans DS Sani Lake, director of JPIC Kalimantan, stated in a Misereor press release that the air, which should be a fundamental right, has turned into a threat. Children, the elderly, and smallholder farmers suffer most from the persistent smoke. Agnes, an activist with JPIC Kalimantan, noted that children under five face the greatest vulnerability to coughs, respiratory illnesses, nausea, and headaches. Many families find air purifiers and safety equipment unaffordable.
Smallholder farmers face additional burdens following a long drought driven by the El Niño weather phenomenon. Smoke and restricted mobility complicate the harvest, transport, and sale of agricultural goods, directly threatening local livelihoods.
Draining Peatlands and Agricultural Clearing
JPIC Kalimantan emphasizes that the fires stem not merely from extreme weather, but from structural causes including the drainage of peatlands, large-scale clearing, and inadequate monitoring of land-use concessions for palm oil production. The organization cautions against blaming traditional, small-scale shifting cultivation by indigenous communities for the fires. Misereor supports its partner organization’s demands for stronger protection of forests and peatlands, consistent punishment of environmental violations, and the recognition and protection of indigenous land rights.
Paruedee Nguitragool, eine außerordentliche Professorin an der Chiang Mai University, warnt gegenüber den Medien, dass Rauchsmog, der früher vor allem ein Problem im maritimen Südostasien war, mittlerweile für die meisten Länder der Region zu einer Herausforderung geworden ist. Nguitragool called for alternative clearing methods, financial incentives for farmers, and restored forest areas, alongside closer cooperation among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Consumers and Europe Share Responsibility for Supply Chains
Christine Kögel, Indonesia desk officer at Misereor, stressed that consumers share responsibility through consumption patterns, noting that palm oil appears in everyday items from snacks to cosmetics. Kögel urged buyers to ensure products originate from socially and environmentally sound production, identifying certified bio and fair-trade palm oil as better alternatives.
JPIC Kalimantan argues that Europe holds a duty to enforce supply chain and deforestation regulations strictly, ensuring smallholders do not bear the primary burden of necessary changes.
Court Fines Company for Environmental Damage
The appeals court last year sentenced the palm oil company PT Banyu Kahuripan Indonesia to around 14 million euros in damages for environmental damage following fires on over 3,300 hectares of concession land. Government initiatives and judicial rulings also include the founding of the Peatland Restoration Agency in 2016, with the goal of rehabilitating millions of hectares of peat areas, a mandate later expanded to mangroves.
JPIC Kalimantan recently established a smoke-free shelter in its office to offer residents temporary clean air and relief.