10m Indonesian children at risk from air pollution due to forest fires

JAKARTA: UNICEF recently revealed that wild forest and peatland fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra in Indonesia are putting nearly 10 million children at risk from air pollution.

Small children are more vulnerable to air pollution because they breathe more rapidly and their physical defenses and immunities are not fully developed. It is estimated that 2.4 million children under five live in the areas most affected by the haze and wild fires, which have been burning in Indonesia since July 2019.

UNICEF warns that air pollution affects babies even before they are born. Debora Comini, UNICEF representative said, “Poor air quality is a severe and growing challenge for Indonesia. Every year, millions of children are breathing toxic air that threatens their health and causes them to miss school – resulting in lifelong physical and cognitive damage.”

According to the Ministry of Education and Culture, more than 46,000 schools are presently affected by poor air quality, affecting more than 7.8 million students. Many schools had to be closed down.

During the dry season, wild forest and peatland fires are common in Indonesia, the situation is made worse this year because of a combination of factors, including extended droughts and global warming.

“It is vital that families and children receive accurate information regarding their exposure to toxic air pollution, as this will help them to protect themselves”, said Comini.

UNICEF looks forward to cooperating in the development of long term plans to mitigate the impact of this recurring situation on children.