Hirai and WEA support Central Kalimantan Patrols and Firefighters

By Yun Pratiwi

Last week (20 October 2023), we continued our mission to provide logistics and vitamins to Taruna Village, BPSILHK, and Tumbang Nusa Village for team patrols and firefighters to extinguish the fires in our region. This is supported by Hirai and the WEA organization, which is a non-profit organization that works to protect the environment and support local communities.

The El-Niño weather phenomenon is expected to continue until next year, so it is more important than ever to ensure that our team patrols and firefighters have the resources they need to stay healthy and strong. The heat, smoke, and ash can all take a toll on their bodies, so it is important for them to eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and get enough rest. Vitamins can also help to boost their immune systems and protect them from illness.

In Taruna Village, we met with a group of team patrols who were preparing to head out into the forest for another day of searching for hotspots. We provided them with food, water, and vitamins, as well as new backpacks and boots. They were grateful for our support and told us that they are determined to do whatever it takes to protect their village and the surrounding forest from the fires.

Next, we traveled to BPSILHK, a government agency that is responsible for forest protection. There, we met with a group of firefighters who were preparing to head to a new fire front. We provided them with the same supplies as the team patrols, as well as additional firefighting equipment, such as hoses and pumps. We also spoke to the firefighters about the importance of staying hydrated and taking breaks, as the work they do is very physically demanding.

Finally, we visited Tumbang Nusa Village, a small community that has been particularly hard hit by the fires. We provided the villagers with food, water, and medical supplies. We also spoke to them about the importance of staying safe and taking precautions to protect themselves from the smoke and ash.

We are grateful for the support of Hirai and the WEA organization. Their generosity has allowed us to provide team patrols and firefighters with the resources they need to stay healthy and strong, and to continue their important work of extinguishing the fires in our region.
We are also grateful for the dedication and hard work of the team patrols and firefighters. They are putting their lives on the line to protect our communities and our forests. We will continue to support them in any way that we can.

In addition to providing logistical and medical support, we are also working to raise awareness of the El-Niño weather phenomenon and its impact on our region. We are encouraging people to reduce their water consumption and to take other steps to conserve resources. We are also working to educate people about the importance of protecting our forests from fires.

We believe that everyone has a role to play in addressing the challenges posed by the El-Niño weather phenomenon. By working together, we can help to protect our communities and our forests from the devastating effects of fires.