Haze causes over 500,000 Indonesians to suffer acute respiratory infection



JAKARTA: -- Indonesia's Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) says more than 500,000 Indonesians are suffering from acute respiratory infection after having been exposed to fire-induced haze for months, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said most of the affected residents are in six provinces including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Jambi and Riau which declared a state of emergency because of the haze months ago.

Sutopo said the number of people affected is actually much higher, as not everybody seeks professional help.

People in the hardest-hit parts of the country are being evacuated to shelters set up by the agency and its local branches, and the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), as efforts to quell the flames continue.

Adding to mounting pressure on the Indonesian government to step up its efforts, the BNPB has called the disaster a “crime against humanity of extraordinary proportions.”

President Joko Widodo recently cut short his state visit to the United States to personally oversee haze mitigation efforts in the affected regions.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/haze-causes-over-500000-indonesians-to-suffer-acute-respiratory-infection

-- Thai PBS 2015-11-02

.....the BNPB has called the disaster a “crime against humanity of extraordinary proportions.”

In about 5-months, the article will be talking about Thais instead of Indonesians. We will then all blame China, crops burning, etc....and still think about putting on a face mask before going outside.

You live cheap in Chiang Mai, you get free respiratory problems. And cheap fruit.....at a pretty good cost.

Thats only the figure for indonesia what about Thailand Burma Malaysia Singapore what about financial compensation , so many have suffered for so few to gain, .

Class action suit against perpetrators is necessary.

It would be wise for the Thai authorities to warn possible perpetrators (farmers) in the north and northeast of possible class action suits in this coming dry season.

BOYCOT

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