MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PALANGKA RAYA – Prolonged drought in Indonesia has escalated the risk of natural disasters, including forest and land fires. The Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC) initiated a program involving oxygen-equipped shelters and vehicles to address this potential crisis.
The initiative was undertaken by the Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Central Kalimantan in collaboration with its affiliated organizations and launched at the Muhammadiyah office of Central Kalimantan.
“As the the Decree of the Mayor of Palangka Raya on August 6, 2023 on extending the Emergency Alert status for forest and land fires until November 10, 2023, the MDMC entrusted with disaster resilience is taking an active role in managing the forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan, particularly in Palangka Raya,” said Heru Setiawan, the Chair of the MDMC of Central Kalimantan, on Sunday (August 27).
The oxygen-equipped shelter program is a proactive measure to counter the potential prolonged haze caused by forest and land fires, and the oxygen-equipped vehicle program aims to support personnel and volunteers engaged in field operations to combat the forest and land fires.
“People in need of fresh air (oxygen) can go to the shelters,” said Heru Setiawan.
The MDMC of Central Kalimantan has also deployed medical and firefighting teams to work with the Palangka Raya Disaster Mitigation Agency.
“Our medical team is on standby to assist the Palangka Raya Disaster Mitigation Agency, particularly in addressing nutritional needs and conducting health assessments. Recognizing that these personnel are at the forefront of the forest and land fire response, their medical requirements, including vitamins, medications, and other services, are a priority,” said Heru Setiawan.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Syar’i, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Central Kalimantan, mentioned that the initiative represents Muhammadiyah’s dedication to upholding the principles of Al-Ma’un.
“The program aligns with Muhammadiyah mission of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar (commanding right and forbidding wrong). We are consistently striving to leverage Muhammadiyah resources for the betterment of the community. The involvement of MDMC in managing forest and land fires is a tangible manifestation of this commitment,” said Ahmaf Syar’i.
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