Kalimantan

Borneo, also known as Kalimantan in Indonesia, is currently grappling with extensive wildfires that have burned over 200,000 hectares of land between January and July. This environmental crisis has led to the deployment of 1,500 additional Indonesian soldiers to combat the fires and mitigate their impact. The fires are a significant concern due to the thick smog they generate, which has caused transboundary haze affecting neighboring regions. In Malaysia's Sarawak state, located on the Malaysian part of Borneo, nearly 600 schools were forced to close, impacting approximately 200,000 students, as air pollution levels reached "very unhealthy" levels. These events highlight the recurring and severe nature of the haze problem in Southeast Asia, often exacerbated during dry spells and linked to forest and peatland fires. The current situation underscores the urgent need for effective fire management and regional cooperation to address the environmental and social consequences of these recurring wildfires.