KemenPPPA: Child Safety Priority in Forest, Land Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) has emphasized that children’s safety and best interests must be a government priority in responding to forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla. The policy covers all stages of disaster management, from the emergency response phase through post-disaster recovery.

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi said child protection must be an integral part of every policy and response measure related to forest and land fires. “We must ensure that children’s safety, education, health, development, and protection remain the top priorities in every response to forest and land fires,” Arifah said in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026.

According to Arifah, the impact of forest and land fires extends beyond environmental damage, posing threats to children’s health, safety, and fundamental rights. She stressed that protecting children in times of crisis is a shared responsibility that must be fulfilled.

Children, particularly infants and toddlers, are among the groups most vulnerable to exposure to smoke from forest and land fires. Such exposure can affect their respiratory health, immune systems, and cognitive development, which are still at a critical stage.

KemenPPPA also highlighted the potential disruption to children’s education and opportunities for play. In evacuation centers, children may face risks including separation from their parents, violence, exploitation, neglect, and psychosocial distress.

“Children must not become invisible victims in any disaster,” Arifah said. Therefore, the government is ensuring that children’s basic needs and protection remain a priority throughout the emergency response and recovery phases.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health recorded 50,891 cases of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) in areas affected by forest and land fires between July and August 2026. Of these, 12,600 cases involved toddlers, who are among the groups most vulnerable to the effects of smoke exposure.

The government has stressed that the response to forest and land fires will not focus solely on disaster control and environmental impacts. It will also aim to ensure children’s safety, protection, and rights are upheld throughout the emergency response and post-disaster recovery phases.