Southeast Asia Faces Renewed Haze Crisis as Fires Rage in Borneo

Dr. Asma Zafirah, a clinic physician in Sarawak, Malaysia, witnesses first-hand the devastating effects of the haze crisis in Southeast Asia. The symptoms are unmistakable: patients arrive with red, irritated eyes and struggling to breathe, indicative of the toxic air that has returned to plague the region.

Despite efforts to manage the hazardous smoke that crosses borders, the situation has deteriorated again. Fires in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, are releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere, affecting the health and well-being of many in neighboring areas.

The transboundary haze crisis, which was expected to be under control after significant interventions six years ago, has re-emerged stronger than ever. Many families have taken to keeping their children indoors to shield them from the hazardous air quality, further highlighting the ongoing public health threat posed by these recurrent environmental disasters.

Source: www.scmp.com