Residents of Palangkaraya, on the Indonesian island of Borneo, are struggling to cope with weeks of toxic haze caused by wildfires, which has taken a toll on their health, livelihoods and education.
Sifra, a 29-year-old homemaker, says she, her husband and their children have been coughing for almost a month, with smoke entering their home.
For Melsi, a 40-year-old street vendor, the haze has brought a sharp drop in sales as the cost of goods continues to rise. “Ever since this haze set in, things have been really bad,” she said, fighting back tears. Her main hope is for the haze to clear and her business to return to normal.
The crisis is also affecting students. Novita, a 20-year-old college student, says a severe cough has left her struggling to breathe, while online learning has already lasted nearly an entire semester.
